As pollsters attempt to predict elections outcomes, those who rely on the results need to evaluate them for credibility, cautioned Jeff Williams, CEO of Public Sector Consultants (PSC), who spoke at Capitol Issues Forum March 21. In his presentation, “Predicting Elections: Lies, Damned Lies, Statistics ... and Surveys", Williams pointed out that survey results can be skewed by using inaccurate population sampling or surveying non-voters instead of voters. Williams further not

A lot has been done, but more needs to be accomplished, said Ari Adler, communications director in the governor’s office, when he recapped Gov. Rick Snyder’s State of the State speech at Capitol Issues Forum Jan. 24. The state of Michigan has achieved significant progress during the governor’s tenure, Adler noted, referring to two Wall Street Journal articles the governor handed up during his speech. The first article published Oct. 2009 was titled ‘The State of Joblessness’,

Detroit is recovering from its 2013 bankruptcy by focusing on improving schools and economic development, Chad Livengood, reporter for Crain’s Detroit Business, told Capitol Issues Forum Sept. 20 in his talk “Covering Detroit’s Resurgence.” As city leaders tackle blight, expensive auto insurance and workforce challenges, Detroit’s comeback story is still being written. Investments by entrepreneurs like Tom Gores, Dan Gilbert and Shahid Khan have brought business and jobs int

Michigan could be losing out on jobs and economic growth thanks to inadequate investment in infrastructure, said Mike Nystrom, Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association and Janice Beecher, MSU's Institute of Public Utilities, who spoke at Capitol Issues Forum Feb. 16 on findings and recommendations of Gov. Snyder's 21st Century Infrastructure Commission. Potential businesses looking to relocate or expand to the area are concerned about Michigan's i

A 21st Century Infrastructure is essential to ensure Michigan's comeback, noted Ari Adler, communications director in the governor's office, who recapped Gov. Rick Snyder's annual State of the State address at Capitol Issues Forum Jan. 18. The governor's goals are to improve 'hard' infrastructure such as water and sewer systems, roads and bridges, as well as the 'soft' infrastructure such as public education and the continuing revitalization of Michigan communities. "Th

“The good news is the 2016 election is over,” said Tony Stamas, vice president of government relations for the Small Business Association of Michigan, who spoke alongside Dennis Denno, founder of Denno Research, at Capitol Issues Forum Nov. 10. “The bad news is the 2018 elections are now upon us.” Stamas said mass voter turnout of people who traditionally do not vote influenced results of the presidential election and that pollsters did not accurately measure enthusiasm amon