11/28/05 - Roberts comments on the latest State of the State Survey

“The good news for cities is that a majority of Michigan residents not only recognize the importance of cities to our state, they also see a need for state funds to be directed toward their revitalization,” said Roberts. View the news release or other resources from this study.

10/24/05 - Ehrlich comments on the 2005 Women's Leadership Index report

"I should think [this study] would be a wake-up call," Nat Ehrlich, a Michigan State survey specialist, told the Lansing State Journal. "If you are talking about a state economy that is somewhat in decline ... to be underutilizing a resource like women, things have to change." View the news release.

6/2/05 - Roberts Comments on IPPSR's Recent TPL Session

“Watching the students in action reminded us of why we work so hard every year to pull this program together,” said Douglas Roberts, director of MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR). IPPSR administers the Tomorrow's Political Leadership program with the support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

5/13/05 - McGrain Comments on Engaging Young People in Politics

“We hope to fire up young adults to become more interested – and active – in the political process,” said Brian McGrain, the Tomorrow's Political Leaders project manager. “Our program gives them the tools to become engaged and successful, whether they hope to run their own political campaign or someone else's.”

3/1/04 - Charles Ballard Comments on Michigan's Economy at Recent Forum

"Michigan’s long term investment in the state economy is best placed in educating its work force. It currently ranks 39th among the 50 states in the proportion of the population with a college degree," said MSU Professor Charles Ballard at a recent forum. More information and resources from this event are available online.

11/4/03 - Morash comments on research of inadequate public defense systems following an IPPSR-sponsored policy forum

"There are several types of research highlighting the problems with inadequate defense. Aside from the costs of wrongful conviction, the courts pay out a second time when handling client claims of inadequate legal representation. A newly created community-oriented defense would better protect legal rights of the client by linking them to needed services and reduce the immediate costs as well as the later expense of inadequate defense claims."

Pictured left is Dr. Merry Morash, a professor in the MSU School of Criminal Justice and recent panelist of the IPPSR-sponsored policy forum on public defense.

9/8/03 - Silver Comments on Civil Liberties Perceptions from New Results of a Nationwide Study

"While on specific trade-offs a majority of Americans tend to choose civil liberties over security, a majority has also accepted the general idea of giving up some of their own rights and liberties to fight terrorism. This is significant in light of freedoms that Americans acknowledge giving up via the U.S. Patriot Act."

Pictured left is Brian S. Silver, director of IPPSR's State of the State Survey and Co-PI of a three-wave nationwide study conducted by IPPSR's Office for Survey Research Civil Liberties Perceptions Post 9/11.

7/31/03 - Weissert Comments on Health Care Coverage as Medicare Turns 36

"Health care coverage and costs continue to provide a drag on the nation's economic and physical well-being. The good news is that states like Michigan are taking steps to help small businesses provide coverage for employees. The bad news is that most of these efforts in Lansing and Washington cost money that no government believes it can now afford. The irony is that as we enter yet another presidential election cycle, health care remains the policy gremlin it has been for well over five decades. The 36th anniversary of Medicare reminds us that we still are far from having a reasonable and efficient health care system, even for the elderly--the target population whose problems were supposedly 'solved' all those years ago."

Pictured left is Carol S. Weissert, former director of IPPSR and co-author of "Governing Health: The Politics of Health Policy," which is in its second printing with the Johns Hopkins University Press.

"I encourage anyone who is interested in making a difference in their community and the state of Michigan to apply to receive this specialized and innovative training."

Pictured left is Anne M. Mervenne, MPLP co-director and president of Mervenne and Partners. Apply for one of MPLP's 24 fellowships today. The application is due Sept. 5.

1/16/03 - Agee Comments on Incoming Political Leadership Class

"This year's group of fellows not only met but exceeded our expectations. Our excitement is fueled by the knowledge that each of these individuals will be ready to give back the highest level of leadership to their communities upon completion of our ten-month program."

Pictured left is James G. Agee, Co-director of IPPSR's Michigan Political Leadership Program (MPLP). The program is getting ready for its annual fundraising events, which will feature Dee Dee Myers and Karen Hughes in Livonia and Grand Rapids on February 20 and 21, 2003.

11/3/02 - Carol S. Weissert Comments on Approaching November 2002 Election

"Voters are going to the polls with mixed feelings about their financial picture..." Excerpt from Lansing State Journal article: "Elections usher in political overhaul."

Pictured left is Carol S. Weissert, former Professor of Political Science and former Director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research

09/13/02 - Roger E. Hamlin Comments on Inner-City Development

"For any society or community to build a sophisticated economy, it must have strong intermediary organizations and possess various investment vehicles to match different saving and investment needs."

Pictured left is Roger E. Hamlin Ph.D., Author of Public Private Partnerships for Inner-City Development.

07/11/02 - Larry A. Hembroff Comments on Results from OSR's 21st Birthday Drinking Survey

"We have found that reading the content of the B.R.A.D. Card appears to reduce the total number of drinks celebrants consume on their 21st Birthdays."

Pictured left is Larry A. Hembroff, Ph.D., Senior Survey Methodologist at IPPSR's Office for Survey Research. He designed the survey and is the study's lead evaluator. View Study Results Online

06/04/02 - Health Policy Papers Released for Candidates, Policymakers

Seven health policy papers were released before more than 100 candidates, legislators, legislative staff, and other policymakers on June 4, 2002. Download a copy of the papers today!

Don Sterling was one of twenty-four candidates who attended the June 4 event.

04/23/02 - MSU Professor Provides Information on Michigan's Nursing Shortage

"At Michigan State University alone, one third of the nursing faculty are eligible to retire today."

Marilyn Rothert is Dean of MSU's College of Nursing. IPPSR released findings from Dr. Rothert and other MSU researchers on key health policy issues on June 4, 2002.

03/15/02 - MSU Professor Compares Michigan's 2025 Demography to that of Florida

"Michigan, a rapidly aging state, will look (demographically) like Florida in 2025. The number of Michiganians 65 and older is projected to grow by over 600,000 while the statewide population is projected to grow only by 400,000."

Dr. Paul Menchik is Professor of Economics at MSU, he is also a featured speaker at the March 28, 2002 IPPSR Policy Forum Series event entitled: Michigan's Changing Demography: Effects on State Expenditures.

02/18/02 - 2002 Fellows Comment on IPPSR's Michigan Political Leadership Program

"I've met so many dynamic people who really make me think," said Zena Biocca, 46, of East Lansing. "We're learning things like coalition building, learning to negotiate and getting things across in a positive way..."

Dulles Copedge, 45 of Lansing said "[The program] will help me understand more of a complete political picture. Then I can bring that back to the community."

Excerpt from The State News, 2/18/02. View the complete article. More information on MPLP and the March 5 Annual Dinner is available online.

10/23/01 - Outreach Partnerships Director Comments on Asset Alliance Development Conference:

"Why are participants calling it a success? Because of the people—the interaction that takes place between participating university faculty and staff, and community leadership from across the state personify what the asset approach is really about—it's about learning together and working together, with some fun mixed in."

Annette Abrams is Director of Outreach Partnerships at Michigan State University. She was highly involved in the 2001 asset alliance development conference.

08/17/01 - Faculty Member Comments on Charter Schools:

"There are serious problems with Michigan's current charter school law. The Legislature needs to address these before raising the cap on the number of charters that state universities can issue.

Continuing growth in charter school enrollments makes it clear that Michigan parents want more choices about where their children go to school, but the Legislature needs to be sure that school choice policies lead to improvements in the educational opportunities available to all Michigan children."

Dr. David N. Plank, is Professor of Educational Administration and Director of MSU's Education Policy Center.

07/02/01 - Faculty Member Comments on Budgeting:

"These are critical times in state and federal government. A source of uncertainty in next year's deliberations is the effect of general economic conditions on the state's fiscal position.

It will be important for Michigan to carefully weigh withdrawals from its 'rainy day' fund and tobacco funds against cuts in services."

Dr. Paul Menchik is Professor of Economics at Michigan State University, he is also the recipient of an IPPSR Applied State Policy research grant entitled Michigan's Changing Demography: Effects on State Expenditure.

05/14/01 - Faculty Member Comments on Internet Sales Tax:

"The Internet changes many of the relationships and systems that we have long used. Taxation is no exception. The seemingly tax free online store raises many issues of states rights and the ease and efficiency of taxing online transactions.

As with so much in cyberspace, the daily issues are not lost, but appear in different ways and forms."

Dr. Mark Wilson is Associate Professor of Geography at Michigan State University and Project Co-Convener of the Electronic Space Project.