Our POLITICS + POLICY category provides users with an extensive list of articles dealing with past, present, and future issues relating to politics and policy throughout the UP.
Recently Published
UP Challenges for the Governor’s Office of Rural Development
The Upper Peninsula faces many challenges as a rural region that Governor Whitmer’s Office of Rural Development seeks to address–namely broadband access, infrastructure, and recruiting and retaining talent.
New Research Publication on Dark Store Theory in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
NMU student researcher Isabelle Karl gives an in-depth look at the losses in revenue and increased costs for local governments in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula due to tax breaks given to big box stores under the “dark store” loophole. She also discusses current legislative efforts to change how big box stores in Michigan are taxed in order to bring more revenue to local communities.
New Research Paper on Upper Peninsula Hotel Taxes
Rural Insights student researcher Elan Barber has published a paper on the history, legislation, and structuring of hotel taxes in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Michigan’s Flat Tax
Michigan is one of nine states in the country with a flat income tax. Over the years, however, there have been a total of 22 bills introduced to either allow graduated income tax or to get rid of the constitutional prohibition on the graduated tax.
Upper Peninsula Voting Data Published
A new paper detailing Upper Peninsula election data has been published to Rural Insights, using information compiled by Isabelle Karl, one of our student researchers.
