Temporary Pandemic Reforms Should be Made Permanent - Mackinac Center
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The Magazine of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy | MARCH/APRIL 2021 Temporary Pandemic Reforms Should be Made Permanent PAGE 11 PAGE 6 Center Again Ranked Among Nation’s Most Influential Think Tanks PAGE 9 How the Mackinac Center’s National Footprint is Making a Difference for Students and Workers
Board of Directors
Hon. Clifford W. Taylor, J.C. Huizenga LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Chairman President, Westwater
Retired Chief Justice, Group
The Most Hyperbolic
Michigan Supreme Edward C. Levy Jr.
Court Executive Chairman,
Joseph G. Lehman, President Edw. C. Levy Co.
Thing You’ll Ever Read
Mackinac Center for Rodney M. Lockwood Jr.
Public Policy President, Lockwood
Jim Barrett Construction Company,
Retired President Inc.
& CEO, Michigan Joseph P. Maguire
Chamber President,
of Commerce Wolverine Development
Corporation
Dulce M. Fuller
Owner, Woodward and
In a recent column, the author begged Lies, damned lies, and statistics. Mark
Richard D. McLellan
Maple Attorney, McLellan Law advertisement writers to avoid superlatives Twain popularized the point that numbers are
Daniel J. Graf Offices
Chief Investment D. Joseph Olson and hyperbole. I chuckled, because the same malleable. It takes discipline to ask: “What is the
Officer, Amerisure Retired Senior Vice
Mutual Holdings, Inc. President and General admonition applies to public policy work. relevant number, and does it actually support
Richard G. Haworth Counsel, Amerisure
Chairman Emeritus, Companies The Mackinac Center is all about ideas, but my point?” Statistics can give the illusion of
Haworth, Inc.
our ideas move through the political process, credibility and also create doubt. Consider
so we often see (and of course must resist) COVID-19 metrics: We measure daily
Board of Scholars
Donald Alexander Dale Matcheck
rhetorical flourishes and logical fallacies. cases, daily deaths, deaths per million, 7-day
Western Michigan Northwood University
University averages, daily tests, infection rates, infections
Charles Meiser
Thomas Bertonneau Here are a few I’ve seen.
SUNY - Oswego
Lake Superior
State University (ret.)
by industry, hospitalizations and hospital
Brad Birzer Glenn Moots
The “I Hope This Bill Does Awesome capacity. Which metric is most useful when
Hillsdale College Northwood University
Peter Boettke George Nastas III Things” Act. Legislation is often described imposing or lifting lockdown restrictions?
George Mason Marketing Consultants
University
Todd Nesbit in terms of its hoped-for benefits, not what
Theodore Bolema Ball State University “There ought to be a law.” When the
Wichita State University
John Pafford it does. When we began writing plain-
Alexander C. Cartwright Northwood University
Mackinac Center looked at the Michigan
Ferris State University (ret.) language summaries of legislation in 2001,
lawbooks in 2014, we found 3,102 criminal
Michael Clark Mark Perry
we discovered most bills can be described as
The Mackinac Center is creating a network of Hillsdale College
Matt Coffey
Central Michigan
University of Michigan
- Flint
Lawrence W. Reed
“prohibiting,” “restricting” or “requiring” some
laws. Many of them criminalize innocuous
behavior, such as dancing during the national
people, like you, who want to see Michigan
University Foundation for activity. By contrast, the formal titles of bills are
Dan Crane
Economic Education anthem or using an orange dog collar. A
University of Michigan Gregory Rehmke often glowing and aspirational. (The Patient
criminal sanction is not always the best
become a better place to live.
Law School Economic Thinking/
Shikha Dalmia
E Pluribus Unum Films Protection and Affordable Care Act comes to
Reason Foundation Steve Safranek solution, but you know the saying: “When you
Private Sector mind.) It wasn’t always so: The ancient world
Chris Douglas
General Counsel have a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”
University of Michigan
If you're interested in learning more, please - Flint
Jefferson Edgens
Howard Schwartz
Oakland University
had the 10 Commandments and the Code
of Hammurabi. As I alluded to above, no one is immune
University of Wyoming Martha Seger
visit OpportunityMichigan.org today. Ross Emmett
Arizona State University
Federal Reserve Board
(ret.)
“When my team does it, it’s brilliant; when
to engaging in such tactics. That’s why the
Sarah Estelle
James Sheehan Mackinac Center has a Guarantee of Quality
SunTrust Robinson
Hope College
Humphrey yours does it, it’s evil.” Otherwise known as
Hugo Eyzaguirre
Scholarship, backed up by our editors, to hold
Northern Michigan
Rev. Robert Sirico the process objection, this occurs when the
University
Acton Institute us to a high standard of excellence. ¬
Tawni Ferrarini
Bradley Smith majority party uses a legitimate tactic and
Capital University Law
Northern Michigan
University
School the minority objects, even when it would
Chris Surprenant
Burton Folsom
Hillsdale College (ret.)
University of New do the same if the roles were reversed. For By Michael J. Reitz
Orleans
John Grether
Jason Taylor example: lame-duck legislators passing bills
Northwood University
Central Michigan
David Hebert University and presidents giving last-minute pardons. But Michael J. Reitz is the executive vice president
Aquinas College
John Taylor incumbents retain all their powers until the day of the Mackinac Center.
Michael Hicks Wayne State University
Ball State University
Richard K. Vedder they leave office. Michael Barone dismissed
Ormand Hook Ohio University
Mecosta-Osceola ISD
Harry Veryser Jr. this objection: “All process arguments are
Harry Hutchison University of Detroit
George Mason Mercy insincere, including this one.”
University School
John Walter Jr.
of Law
Dow Corning
David Janda Corporation (ret.) “This is the most important election of
Institute for
Mike Winther
Preventative
Institute for Principle our lifetimes.” It won’t surprise you that
Sports Medicine
Studies
Annette Kirk
Gary Wolfram
notable people repeat this line election cycle
Russell Kirk Center
Hillsdale College
David Littmann after cycle, not unlike the furniture store with
Mackinac Center for
Public Policy its perennial “going out of business” sale. My
favorite use of this came during the Bush
140 West Main Street, P.O. Box 568
v. Kerry election in 2004. Larry King asked
Midland, Michigan 48640 George W. Bush, “Is this the most important
989-631-0900, Fax 989-631-0964
election ever?” You can imagine the twinkle in
www.mackinac.org mcpp@mackinac.org
his eye when W. said, “For me it is.”
IMPACT is published six times a year by the Mackinac Center
for Public Policy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt
research and educational institute classified under section
501(c)(3) of the IRS code.
JOHN LAPLANTE Editor
2 March/April 2021 IMPACT ILIA VANDERHOOF Designer IMPACT March/April 2021 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
3 The Most Hyperbolic Thing You’ll
Ever Read
6 Center Again Ranked Among Nation’s
Most Influential Think Tanks
INTRODUCING
7 Lawsuits Keep Michigan’s Open
PAGE 11
Records Law Strong
8 Victories From Decades of Fighting
Against Business Subsidies
9 How the Mackinac Center’s National
Footprint is Making a Difference for
Students and Workers
PAGE 7
BRINGING MACKINAC IDEAS
11 Temporary Pandemic Reforms Should TO VIDEO SCREENS
be Made Permanent
12 Mackinac in the Media Youtube.com/MackinacCenter
13 Helping Freedom’s Advocates Become
PAGE 8
Persuasive Communicators
15 The Family Man
16 Postal Delays Didn’t Deter Giving
PAGE 15
BLOG DATABASES CAPCON MICHIGAN VOTES OPPORTUNITY MICHIGAN LITIGATION
Keep up-to-date on the Labor contracts, superintendent salaries, Michigan Capitol Confidential is the Want to know what your legislators Do you want to get more engaged Our public interest law firm
latest policy stories from school grading and more. Our online news site of the Mackinac Center (and others) have been voting for? with public policy in Michigan? advances individual freedom
Mackinac Center analysts. databases provide easy access to that provides unique news coverage. MichiganVotes.org helps keep Michigan Opportunity Michigan is right for you. and the rule of law in Michigan.
Mackinac.org/blog important information. MichCapCon.com politicians accountable to their constituents. OpportunityMichigan.org Mackinac.org/MCLF
4 March/April 2021 IMPACT
Mackinac.org/databases MichiganVotes.org IMPACT March/April 2021 5
Lawsuits Keep Michigan’s
Center Again Ranked Among Nation’s Open Records Law Strong
Most Influential Think Tanks Sunshine laws are essential tools that
enable citizens to hold their government
In May 2020, we sought e-mails between state
employees and the University of Michigan
the Michigan Department of Licensing
and Regulatory Affairs, seeking copies of
accountable. Unfortunately, it’s far too professors Gov. Gretchen Whitmer cited as complaints against businesses alleged to
Most people are not familiar with what behind our friends at the Acton Institute in of donors choose to support our work, and common for government to try to avoid doing experts who helped her prepare COVID-19 have violated Gov. Whitmer’s COVID-
think tanks do, so it would probably surprise Grand Rapids). we couldn’t be prouder to see that effort what the law requires: disclose its records. response plans. We did not receive the related executive orders. After charging the
many to learn there are more 11,000 such recognized and ranked among the nation’s documents until October, and they were Mackinac Center over $1,300, LARA failed to
The report analyzed think tanks of all kinds, Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act
organizations worldwide. While they come finest public policy organizations. ¬ heavily redacted. The redactions were not produce the records for over five months. It
including university-based ones, those requires a government body to respond
in all sorts of shapes and sizes, think tanks reasonable and neither was the delay, and we was only in November, after we had filed suit,
directly affiliated with government, ones within 5-15 days of receiving a request for
typically advise, educate and influence sued to obtain the unredacted records. that the department produced them.
sponsored by businesses, those with ties By Michael Van Beek information by giving a good-faith estimate
policymakers and the public on governmental
to political parties, and, of course, private of the costs and time required to fulfill the Michigan State University was equally It’s unfortunate these suits are necessary,
policies. The latest edition of an annual report
and independent ones like the Mackinac request. Once it receives a deposit, it must defiant. In June, we sought information about given that the FOIA law is meant to
ranks the effectiveness of these organizations, Michael Van Beek is the director of research
Center. These think tanks were ranked at the Mackinac Center. process the request in a reasonable time and the firing of professor Stephen Hsu. But MSU encourage access to information. While
and the Mackinac Center is honored to be
based on the responses of nearly 4,000 think produce the relevant records. The office may did not release its records until after we filed many people cannot pursue lawsuits against
identified, once again, as one of the most
tank executives, scholars, policymakers redact information, but only in a limited way. suit in December. The delay was egregious illegal FOIA responses, the Mackinac Center
influential think tanks in the country.
and journalists. because the university estimated it would is committed to holding our government
That’s the law; the actual process is
The “Global Go To Think Tank Index only require 17 hours of work to fulfill the accountable. If you would like to learn more
The Center’s high ranking is evidence of our significantly different. Often, government
Report” was published by the University request. And, once again, the documents we about these (or future) cases, please follow
effectiveness at influencing public policy here bodies estimate absurd costs to force
of Pennsylvania’s Think Tanks and Civil received were heavily redacted. along at mackinac.org/litigation/cases. ¬
in Michigan. It means our recommendations people to abandon requests. They can
Societies Program. For more than a decade,
and advice are well-known and well-regarded also not process the request for months, In December, the Mackinac Center filed suit
James McGann, a senior lecturer at UPenn,
in Lansing. It means journalists take our rendering the documents useless. Often, against the University of Michigan on behalf By Steve Delie
has led this research, which relies on surveys
research and point of view into consideration. the documents are heavily and improperly of the donor of an endowed gift. That donor
of policymakers, journalists, scholars and
It means the public can rely on the Center’s redacted, forcing the requestor to sue to get had, in March, sought information about Steve Delie is the director of labor policy and
donors to rank the best think tanks across
the requested information. how his gift was being used. He did not Workers for Opportunity at the Mackinac Center
research to become better informed about
the world.
public policy issues. receive all the requested records until late
At the Mackinac Center, we file hundreds of
The Mackinac Center ranked 83rd of more December, after the Center filed a lawsuit.
Of course, most importantly, the Center’s FOIA request each year, and we have seen
than 2,200 think tanks in the United States, U-M took more than 200 days to process a
lofty status among think tanks means that a this pattern of noncompliance countless
which puts it in the top 4% nationally. The 7-hour request.
voice dedicated to defending free markets, times. It’s important to hold our government
Center is also one of the highest ranked state-
limited government and the rule of law is accountable, so we take legal action when it Universities aren’t the only culprit, though.
focused think tanks. Of the 29 Michigan-
being heard loud and clear in Michigan. refuses to play by the rules. In June, we filed a FOIA request with
based think tanks reviewed for the report, the
That’s a primary reason why our thousands
Center had the second-highest rank (right
6 March/April 2021 IMPACT IMPACT March/April 2021 7
Victories From Decades of Fighting How the Mackinac Center’s National
Against Business Subsidies Footprint is Making a Difference for
Michigan’s economy struggled through a We attacked business subsidies on several the “Good Jobs for Michigan” program.
Students and Workers
one-state recession in the early 2000s. In fronts. Our careful academic analyses showed Many lawmakers, though, see beyond the
response to the state’s broad economic that the programs were not worth their costs. self-promoting and misleading label to find The Mackinac Center’s Workers for learning. Many students have suffered from As we approach the end of another school
problems, lawmakers went hunting for We found that deals often went bad. We did it the same kind of as unfair, ineffective and Opportunity initiative has become an inadequate virtual education programs year marked by COVID-driven policies, the
factories and made deals: jobs for taxpayer what we could to make people aware of state expensive program that has been tried before. increasingly recognizable force when it offered by public schools, and parents want Mackinac Center is raising the banner for
cash. The Democratic governor and government’s embarrassing moments, like The original law prevented administrators comes to state-based labor reforms. Thanks to respond. Many have come together in more parental choices and fewer government
Republican Legislature didn’t agree on much, when it awarded a deal to a con artist. We from signing new Good Jobs deals after 2019. in part to our leadership, lawmakers from small community settings so their children restrictions on how our students can learn
but they both got behind plans to spend more found new ways to demonstrate that these Lawmakers have rejected calls from lobbyists at least eight states are taking actions that could safely benefit from socialization and and thrive. And in doing so, we believe the
on business subsidies, with legislators giving programs were ineffective at creating jobs, to give administrators authority to approve would either extend right-to-work liberties customized education approaches that meet cause is too important not to look outward
their overwhelming bipartisan support. unfair to businesses that don’t benefit from new deals. or further protect public employees’ their specific needs. Called “pod learning,” for opportunities to bring these options to
them, and expensive to the state budget. right to make informed choices on union this approach lets parents share the families around the country. ¬
Things have changed since then. Advocates A reflection on this history shows that our
That’s in addition to pointing out that it is membership. When most legislative sessions responsibilities of financing and arranging
of business subsidies struggle to get votes work has helped make business subsidies
inappropriate for the state government to close in May or June, it’s possible we will see educational programming, making it a
for the kind of programs that used to breeze less popular and more difficult to get By Lindsay Killen
pick winners and losers in the marketplace, over 1 million workers’ rights expanded. much more feasible and affordable option
through the political process. approved through the legislative process.
which is what lawmakers do when they offer for two-parent working families than going
This is remarkable progress, and we hope to This work builds on our long-term success Lindsay Killen is the vice president for strategy
This is due, in part, to the Mackinac deals to select companies. it alone.
continue it. ¬ here at home. Ever since right-to-work and communications at the Mackinac Center.
Center’s work.
In short, we tried to make business took effect in Michigan in 2013, over 33% State policymakers have sought the input of
We demonstrated that the policies didn’t do subsidies unpopular. of teachers (to pick one occupation) have organizations like the Mackinac Center as
By James M. Hohman
what lawmakers wanted them to accomplish. become more informed of their rights and they seek to reform state laws in ways that
It’s been a long, hard battle. We butt heads
Lawmakers wanted to see more jobs, so chosen to withdraw from union membership. will empower parents interested in pursuing
with regional economic development James M. Hohman is the director of fiscal policy
they gave money to companies to create In our conversations with lawmakers across pod learning opportunities for their
agencies, business interest groups and at the Mackinac Center.
them. Yet the Bureau of Labor Statistics kept the country, we find that Michigan is still an children. A number of barriers and legal
sympathetic commentators. The people who
reporting that employment in Michigan was example for demonstrating the importance threats to pod learning arrangements exist,
get to hand out special favors like having that
going down. of ensuring that employees are not only free including the inability of parents to use a
power, just as recipients of the favors like
to exercise their rights, but have the power portion of their children’s per-pupil funding
This was because Michigan’s economic getting them.
to do so. toward expenses they incur. These barriers
problems were deep and broad, while limit the number of families who can pursue
Our success depends on creating a climate of
business subsidies were narrow and targeted. The Mackinac Center’s impact beyond
popular opinion that is skeptical of business pod learning.
Giving costly subsidies to a particular the state’s borders is not confined to the
subsidies. This will ensure that lawmakers see
plant for dozens of jobs does little when workplace, however. We recently launched Currently, we are working with allied
costs the next time someone comes around
the economy creates and loses hundreds a multistate strategy to work alongside organizations and lawmakers in Michigan
to ask for money for jobs.
of thousands of jobs a year, which it does others to advance proposals that help and in three other states to explore
through the underappreciated churn that Indeed, supporters call their latest pitch to parents work together in response to the opportunities to remove these barriers and
goes on naturally. give taxpayer money to select businesses widespread closures of in-person classroom secure the pod-learning option for parents.
8 March/April 2021 IMPACT IMPACT March/April 2021 9
Temporary Pandemic
Reforms Should be Made
Permanent
The discovery and spread of COVID-19 shined a new Those concerned about quality issues can rest assured,
light on many old problems — in particular, the laws and as the requirements for obtaining a state license in most
regulations standing in the way of treating and caring health care professions are largely the same from state to
for patients. state. Additionally, if this temporary reform were made
permanent, health professionals would still be required to
Early in the pandemic, the Mackinac Center recommended
follow all Michigan laws, practice only within their scope,
fully suspending several of the laws as a way to increase
and register with the state. The federal Department of
access to qualified providers, increase hospital bed
Veterans Affairs sets an example; it accepts individuals
capacity, and bring the emergency under control. Gov.
with a license in good standing to practice in any of its
Gretchen Whitmer adopted many of our suggestions.
facilities, regardless of where they are licensed.
Unfortunately, all of them have been reinstituted, despite
Gov. Whitmer acknowledging the suspension helped Adequate bed capacity is another requirement during a
“save countless lives and ensured our hospitals were fully health emergency. Since Michigan health facilities are
staffed to care for COVID-19 patients.” currently required to obtain a certificate of need, or CON,
to add additional beds, Gov. Whitmer issued several
If these laws can be suspended to improve patient
executive orders that expedited the process to add bed
outcomes and save lives during an emergency, they should
capacity to treat COVID-19 patients. The state approved
be permanently suspended.
over 100 emergency CONs for facilities.
Increasing the number of providers to treat patients and
CON laws were initially enacted to control health care
using their competencies to the greatest extent are a must
costs, but decades of research has found the opposite
during a pandemic. To do so, Gov. Whitmer suspended
result. Because of how they are constructed, CON laws
scope-of-practice restrictions on nurse practitioners,
protect current providers from competition and are
physician assistants, pharmacists and others that prevented
associated with reduced access to care, decreased health
them from fully using their education, experience and
care quality and higher costs. George Mason University’s
training. These restrictions, such as the requirement for
Mercatus Center found that eliminating our state’s
nurse practitioners to have written collaborative practice
CON laws would increase the number of health care
agreements with physicians, contribute to primary care
facilities here and reduce total health care spending. For
shortages by limiting access to essential providers. They
comparison, 12 states have no CON laws, and more than
also increase costs, wait times, and driving distances
20 states have fewer CON regulations than Michigan,
for patients.
including all surrounding Midwestern states.
Patients benefit when providers have full practice
For decades, these laws and regulations have stood in the
authority. Research has found no significant health
way of putting patients first and have acted as buffers to
differences and comparable patient outcomes between
adding natural competitive forces (and their benefits)
patients randomly assigned to either nurse practitioners
into the health care market. The governor has maintained
or physicians, when NPs had the same authority and
she would welcome “ideas on science-based solutions to
responsibilities as physicians. Research has also found that
protect public health.” In that spirit, we recommend making
patients were more satisfied with NP consultations.
these temporary responses permanent, which will help
Another method to address shortages and increase access our state respond to future emergencies and provide more
to providers is to recognize the licenses of highly trained access to affordable care under normal circumstances. ¬
health professionals from other states. In response to
the increased need of providers during the initial surge By Greg George
of COVID-19, Gov. Whitmer suspended licensing
restrictions that prevented professionals from other states
Greg George is the director of legislative affairs at the
with licenses in good standing from treating Michiganders Mackinac Center.
without first paying for a Michigan license.
10 March/April 2021 IMPACT IMPACT March/April 2021 11
MEET A SUPPORTER
Helping Freedom’s Advocates
Become Persuasive Communicators
A profile of Eric Tubbs
When asked how he first learned research, econometric
about the Mackinac Center, Eric Tubbs modelling and budget
Mackinac in the Media paused. “I am sure it had to do with Larry
Reed, who was one of my economics
analysis, but few have
the capacity or skills to
instructors when I attended Northwood build up the marketing
At the end of each year, MichiganVotes, a Other outlets in Minnesota, Indiana and
University. When I first started capabilities needed to
project of the Mackinac Center, tallies the Illinois have mentioned Mackinac Center
supporting the Mackinac Center, I had catapult their ideas into
number of votes lawmakers missed that year. data in their reporting.
three young children and was trying to mainstream culture. For
With some lawmakers needing to quarantine
As James Hohman noted in The Hill, the build the business. We didn’t really have the ideas of liberty and
and others becoming sick with COVID-19,
there were some understandable reasons
minimum wage debate has been caught in an money to give away, but I tried to make freedom to prevail in
endless loop. In a separate piece for that outlet, small donations every year because I culture, organizations
for missed votes. Still, the report of missed
Jarrett Skorup argued multiple points against thought the work was important for the
votes is yet another tool to hold lawmakers promoting these values
raising the federal minimum wage. Another future of my kids.”
accountable. Outlets that featured this year’s need to dramatically
op-ed written by Skorup was published in
report include the Midland Daily News, improve in reaching
National Review. He cautioned there that Since then, Tubbs has been no stranger
The Alpena News, Grand Rapids Business and persuading broader
Journal, The Monroe News, WSJM and the
a higher minimum wage “will not lift many to the cause of liberty. He is the
people out of poverty but instead will make audiences. The Mackinac
Sanilac County News. president of Iron Light Labs, a nonprofit
fewer jobs available to the unemployed and Center has come a long
dedicated to training people, especially
Celebrating National School Choice Week those looking for their first jobs.” way in this regard.”
in the freedom movement, in effective
looked different this year, but the Mackinac
Over a decade’s worth of misguided green
communications. Before that, he co- Tubbs and his wife take
Center still featured families who have used
Communications Manager energy policies wreaked havoc in Texas and owned and managed Tubbs Brothers, a focused approach to
a variety of educational options. In an op-ed
the lower Midwest as states suffered blackouts an automotive retailer. In 2016, he sold philanthropy. “Penny and
in The Detroit News, Ben DeGrow shared but the reality is that it is a marathon,
during some unusually severe winter weather. his shares to his brother to pursue his I are passionate about the
stories from three families. He wrote, “Those
Jason Hayes described what these blackouts passion for helping others understand not a sprint. I often think of the years
who use school choice to match their child’s value of individual liberty, and most
show us about the future of energy in the the benefits of free-market principles. of foundational work Mackinac did
needs to an educational setting that works of our giving goes to organizations
U.S., in a piece published by USA Today. In on right-to-work with no apparent
for them receive tangible benefits.” One high- we believe will further that cause,
the piece, he wrote, “As more states mandate “Free markets and individual liberty,” he progress. I am convinced that had
profile advocate for school choice was former because if we lose our freedom, we
unreliable renewables, incidents like this says, “are the greatest forces for good in Mackinac not done all of that work
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. DeGrow lose everything.” He adds, “Frankly,
will become more frequent, not less. Every human history. They’ve lifted millions upfront, when the opportunity for right-
wrote a piece for Real Clear Education that
new wind turbine and solar panel means out of poverty. Yet too often, these ideas I have never understood why some
discussed her legacy and efforts to give to-work arose in Michigan, we would
less reliable energy — the energy Americans go unheard, or worse, misrepresented people who support freedom-centered
students greater educational opportunities. have missed it. We need to continue to
need to weather the coldest nights and the in mainstream culture by those who organizations give ten times as much to
support the Mackinac Center and other
Higher excise taxes for cigarettes and vaping hottest days.” On radio and TV shows across disagree with them. Proponents of their public university that is taxpayer
organizations that effectively promote
devices have been under discussion in several Michigan, Hayes discussed what the state can freedom and individual responsibility supported and often working against
liberty and limited government.” ¬
states. Unfortunately, attempts to use tax do to avoid a similar fate. ¬ have been losing the battle for the the principles of liberty. But, we all get
increases to curb smoking are misguided and to choose!”
hearts and minds of individuals,
will lead to even more smuggling, a point
especially those in the political middle
made in several op-eds written by Michael The one message he would like to share
and soft left.”
LaFaive and adjunct scholar Todd Nesbit. with Mackinac Center donors is to stay
These pieces appeared in The Washington He continues, “Freedom-focused focused on the big picture. “We often
Post, The Hill and the Duluth News Tribune. want to see policies changed quickly,
organizations have mastered rigorous
12 March/April 2021 IMPACT
MEET THE STAFF
The Family Man
A profile of the Mackinac Center’s
Jim Walker
He was almost a priest. From there, he served a variety of religious, cultural
and civic institutions.
It’s strange to think about now. Now that Jim
Walker is happily married with six kids. “My job is to connect people of means to people
with needs. To amplify the voice of donors who
Growing up in Oxford, Michigan — then a one-
make game-changing investments,” he said.
traffic light town — Jim is from a devout family.
One that knew tragedy. In 2015, the ex-athlete came to the Mackinac
Center for Public Policy, where he is now the vice
When he was five, his fourth-eldest sister passed
president for advancement. He says it’s a special
away from a rare lung disease. His brother was
place because of its mission and leadership, and
diagnosed as well, spending years being fed
by a tube and sleeping in an oxygen tank, and the team he’s privileged to lead, with its diverse
doctors said he would die as well. But he didn’t. sets of skills and abilities.
Walker, assisting as his caretaker, saw it all up-close
“Policy changes have ability to affect millions of
from a young age.
lives almost instantaneously, but the changes often
Learning to accept suffering peacefully was, in take years to achieve,” he said. “The state’s right-to-
part, what prompted him to consider a call to the work law, our win at the Michigan Supreme Court
priesthood. The son of a football coach, he went (in a case concerning Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s
to Hope College to play defensive back and study executive orders), all of the victories — they don’t
physics. Injuries, student loans and a maturing happen without our donors investing in ideas
faith prompted him to transfer to a seminary. and doing so for the long run. They’re not only
generous but persevering.”
God had other plans, however. And so did the
young woman who would become his wife. Walker loves his job because, as he says, “generous
people are happy people. Our donors give freely
“Kelly and I were raised in the same small town. to make the world, and Michigan in particular, a
Our older siblings married each other. We dated better place for all people. The main return on their
when I was at Hope,” he said. “After I left seminary, investment is knowing they’ve done something to
we started dating again, got engaged, and decided help others.”
to serve the church another way.”
Above all, he is a family man. He learned to
During the engagement, the two became prioritize family from the example of his own
missionaries; he was stationed in Dallas, and she parents. He has five living siblings, and his mom is
went to Atlanta. expecting grandchild number 27 soon.
“That’s how I first started working with donors,” “And we all get together almost every Sunday.
Walker said. “We needed money for a project, When my dad was living, he referred to it as a
and I was able to secure a few commitments from piece of heaven.” ¬
people who wanted to help.” A few years later,
he was asked to run a school near Dallas, as its
chief executive.
14 March/April 2021 IMPACT IMPACT March/April 2021 15
NONPROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MIDLAND, MI
140 West Main Street, P.O. Box 568 PERMIT NO. 275
Midland, Michigan 48640
Postal Delays Didn’t
Deter Giving
“With 1920 postmark, mail is delivered to Gifts poured in through the mail as well
Michigan home 100 years late.” as through stock transfers, direct deposit,
— Washington Post monthly credit card giving and online giving at
www.mackinac.org/donate.
While most of us won’t ever experience such
a severe mail delay, over the past year all of Whatever your preferred giving method, we’re
us have sent mail that arrived far later than truly grateful.
we expected. That’s what happened to the
Because of you, we advanced the cause of
Mackinac Center’s final letter of 2020, mailed
freedom and limited government even during
to supporters on Dec. 11. A number of you told
an unforeseen pandemic. Your gifts fueled
us that you did not receive it until mid-January;
policy reforms like deregulating telemedicine
others received it in February.
and making it easier for ex-offenders to obtain
The New York Times recently reported that productive work. And you contributed to our
in December, the U.S. Postal Service turned in landmark victory at the Michigan Supreme
its worst performance in years, with only 64% Court over Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s abuse of
of first-class mail delivered on time around power.
Christmas. The reasons aren’t surprising:
As you know, there is much more to do to
postal workers affected by COVID-19, the
restore our freedoms and restart our economy
holiday mail rush and increased demand for in 2021. Your continued support is vital. Mail
parcel deliveries. will continue to be an important and effective
But what’s so encouraging to us is that the way for the Mackinac Center to communicate
late delivery didn’t stop supporters like you with you, but there are many other ways for us
to stay in touch, including online and through
from giving.
email. Please don’t hesitate to contact our
The number of gifts made to the Mackinac Advancement Department at 989-631-0900
Center in 2020 was about 35% higher than if you would ever like to talk about your mail,
it was in 2019, this included support from email or giving preferences. We look forward
hundreds of new donors. to talking with you. ¬
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