By Taylor Regester
Michigan Capitol Confidential
Michigan’s occupational licensing laws have little to do with public safety, a panel of experts told participants at a recent forum.
The state’s work requirements also push up prices for consumers and keep willing workers out of jobs, according to Jarrett Skorup, vice president of marketing and communications at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
Michigan requires a license to work in 175 occupations — from barbers to auto mechanics. These restrictions affect more than one million workers, or about one in five members of the state’s workforce.
Many of these license requirements defy logic and common sense. Barbers in Michigan need more training hours than airline pilots need for their federal license.
“Having too many rules is the same as having none,” Skorup said during a June 10 forum at the Michigan Capitol. “There’s no way anyone can keep up with it, and all you’ve done is make the process more confusing.”
The Brookings Institution, the Institute for Justice and other organizations say these mandates are often unnecessary, raise consumer costs, and make it harder for people with criminal records or out-of-state licenses to work.
“Excess licensing hinders the American workforce,” Skorup said, citing 2017 comments from then-Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. “It’s a costly, complex economic barrier for Americans moving state to state, and it prevents Americans from looking to leverage technology.”
Panelists at the June event called for reforms, including universal license recognition, under which Michigan would recognize licenses issued by other states.
Deeb Eid, a pharmacist and regulatory affairs manager at CVS Health, said reforms could address worker shortages and make Michigan more competitive. He added that Michigan ranks 29th-worst among licensing burdens nationwide.
Eid supported universal recognition, saying that excessive licensing costs the state an estimated 125,000 jobs and $10.4 billion in higher prices each year. The burden “incorporates people like veterans, spouses, remote workers, new graduates, border-state practitioners, and telehealth providers,” he said.
Twenty-one states have adopted a universal recognition policy since 2013.
Michigan’s licensing laws make it especially difficult for individuals with a criminal record to reenter the workforce, said Ally Alfonsetti, a legislative strategist with Prison Fellowship, a nonprofit that advocates for criminal justice reform. More than 15,000 legal barriers exist nationwide, preventing people with criminal records from obtaining licenses. One in four jobs nationally require a license.
“Over 93 percent of formerly incarcerated people between the ages of 25 and 44 are unemployed or actively looking for a job,” she said.
“We’re missing out on this opportunity to tap into a workforce that wants to contribute to society,” Alfonsetti added. “Many have already received training behind bars and are ready to work when they return home.”
The unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated individuals is five times higher than average, and about 50 percent report no income even four years after release, she said.
A criminal record should not automatically disqualify a job applicant, according to Alfonsetti.
“When determining whether to grant an occupational license, consideration of a criminal record should be based on a direct relationship between the crime in question and the specific license being requested” she said. “But also, not eliminating an entire group from accessing the workforce to pay taxes, contribute to their community, and be productive members of society.”
Skorup pointed to inconsistencies in how licensing rules are applied. Auto mechanics in Michigan pay $6 to take a test and get licensed, with no formal training required. Until recently, house painters paid $900 and completed 60 hours of training.
Other states have made reforms. Idaho’s Board of Pharmacy cut 60 percent of its rules with no rise in disciplinary actions.
Panelists at the Mackinac Center event urged Michigan to follow suit and reduce barriers to work. Those who benefit would include new residents, returning residents, and people looking to enter a new job. A reformed system of occupational licensing would increase competition and expand the labor pool, the panel concluded.
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Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.
Michigan Capitol Confidential
Michigan’s occupational licensing laws have little to do with public safety, a panel of experts told participants at a recent forum.
The state’s work requirements also push up prices for consumers and keep willing workers out of jobs, according to Jarrett Skorup, vice president of marketing and communications at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
Michigan requires a license to work in 175 occupations — from barbers to auto mechanics. These restrictions affect more than one million workers, or about one in five members of the state’s workforce.
Many of these license requirements defy logic and common sense. Barbers in Michigan need more training hours than airline pilots need for their federal license.
“Having too many rules is the same as having none,” Skorup said during a June 10 forum at the Michigan Capitol. “There’s no way anyone can keep up with it, and all you’ve done is make the process more confusing.”
The Brookings Institution, the Institute for Justice and other organizations say these mandates are often unnecessary, raise consumer costs, and make it harder for people with criminal records or out-of-state licenses to work.
“Excess licensing hinders the American workforce,” Skorup said, citing 2017 comments from then-Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. “It’s a costly, complex economic barrier for Americans moving state to state, and it prevents Americans from looking to leverage technology.”
Panelists at the June event called for reforms, including universal license recognition, under which Michigan would recognize licenses issued by other states.
Deeb Eid, a pharmacist and regulatory affairs manager at CVS Health, said reforms could address worker shortages and make Michigan more competitive. He added that Michigan ranks 29th-worst among licensing burdens nationwide.
Eid supported universal recognition, saying that excessive licensing costs the state an estimated 125,000 jobs and $10.4 billion in higher prices each year. The burden “incorporates people like veterans, spouses, remote workers, new graduates, border-state practitioners, and telehealth providers,” he said.
Twenty-one states have adopted a universal recognition policy since 2013.
Michigan’s licensing laws make it especially difficult for individuals with a criminal record to reenter the workforce, said Ally Alfonsetti, a legislative strategist with Prison Fellowship, a nonprofit that advocates for criminal justice reform. More than 15,000 legal barriers exist nationwide, preventing people with criminal records from obtaining licenses. One in four jobs nationally require a license.
“Over 93 percent of formerly incarcerated people between the ages of 25 and 44 are unemployed or actively looking for a job,” she said.
“We’re missing out on this opportunity to tap into a workforce that wants to contribute to society,” Alfonsetti added. “Many have already received training behind bars and are ready to work when they return home.”
The unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated individuals is five times higher than average, and about 50 percent report no income even four years after release, she said.
A criminal record should not automatically disqualify a job applicant, according to Alfonsetti.
“When determining whether to grant an occupational license, consideration of a criminal record should be based on a direct relationship between the crime in question and the specific license being requested” she said. “But also, not eliminating an entire group from accessing the workforce to pay taxes, contribute to their community, and be productive members of society.”
Skorup pointed to inconsistencies in how licensing rules are applied. Auto mechanics in Michigan pay $6 to take a test and get licensed, with no formal training required. Until recently, house painters paid $900 and completed 60 hours of training.
Other states have made reforms. Idaho’s Board of Pharmacy cut 60 percent of its rules with no rise in disciplinary actions.
Panelists at the Mackinac Center event urged Michigan to follow suit and reduce barriers to work. Those who benefit would include new residents, returning residents, and people looking to enter a new job. A reformed system of occupational licensing would increase competition and expand the labor pool, the panel concluded.
—————
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.
Senate Passes Peters Bill Establishing Manufacturing Advisory Council
The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. to establish a National Manufacturing Advisory Council at the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Peters’ legislation would establish the National Manufacturing Advisory Council as a key component in developing federal manufacturing policy to help strengthen U.S. leadership in global manufacturing.
“To support manufacturers in Michigan and throughout the United States, we need our industry partners, economic developers, lawmakers, and workers reading from the same playbook,” Peters said. “A National Manufacturing Advisory Council would help bring together and amplify the voices of manufacturers, workers, and industry experts to strengthen our federal manufacturing policy.
In doing so, we can proactively address rising challenges in the industry and better seize opportunities that will propel American manufacturing to new heights in the coming decades.”
Peters’ bipartisan legislation – which he introduced with U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. – would establish a National Manufacturing Advisory Council made up of manufacturing, labor, and education leaders to advise both Congress and the Secretary of Commerce on how best to ensure the United States remains the top destination globally for investment in manufacturing. It would serve as a bridge between the manufacturing sector and federal government to improve communication and collaboration, and better support the industry and its workforce.
The National Manufacturing Advisory Council would meet at least twice a year to advise the Secretary of Commerce on policies and programs that impact U.S. manufacturing. It would also propose solutions to challenges and problems facing manufacturers in the United States. The Advisory Council would be required to:
• Identify and assess the effects of technological developments, production capacity, skill availability, investment patterns, and emerging needs for United States manufacturing competitiveness.
• Solicit input from the public and private sectors – including businesses and labor groups – as well as academia on emerging trends in manufacturing.
• Provide recommendations to the Secretary addressing global and domestic manufacturing trends threatening the U.S. manufacturing sector, including supply chain interruptions, logistical challenges, and technological changes. The Advisory Council would also advise the Secretary on ways to increase federal attention with respect to manufacturing – as well as matters relating to the U.S. manufacturing workforce such as the impact of new technology and worker training and education priorities.
• Identify regulatory issues encountered by the domestic manufacturing sector and provide advice on how to mitigate issues through a favorable environment for manufacturers, workers, and consumers.
“This initiative, the National Manufacturing Advisory Council Act, is designed to improve the resources and support for our nation’s small and medium-size manufacturers, which are a truly vital driver of our economy. I applaud Sen. Peters for his steadfast, unwavering commitment to American manufacturing,” said Ingrid Tighe, President of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, the Michigan representative of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), praised Peters for the legislation that he says will “improve the federal government’s planning and coordination of efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing.”
“Recent supply chain disruptions have made clear that it is time for the United States to shore up its critical manufacturing capabilities, which will not only better prepare us for the next crisis but also create jobs and boost the economy,” Paul said. “This increased coordination between the many programs designed to support our manufacturers and their workers is an important step towards rebuilding our industrial base.”
Peters’ National Manufacturing Advisory Council for the 21st Century Act is also supported by the American Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC).
“This council will be a forum for manufacturers and other key stakeholders to provide input to the Department of Commerce (DOC) on important long-range issues such as workforce, supply chain, technology, and defense industrial base,” said Ana Meuwissen, senior vice president of government affairs for the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). “The NMAC legislation would also foster better coordination of federal manufacturing policy in the DOC and across the federal government.”
Peters’ legislation would establish the National Manufacturing Advisory Council as a key component in developing federal manufacturing policy to help strengthen U.S. leadership in global manufacturing.
“To support manufacturers in Michigan and throughout the United States, we need our industry partners, economic developers, lawmakers, and workers reading from the same playbook,” Peters said. “A National Manufacturing Advisory Council would help bring together and amplify the voices of manufacturers, workers, and industry experts to strengthen our federal manufacturing policy.
In doing so, we can proactively address rising challenges in the industry and better seize opportunities that will propel American manufacturing to new heights in the coming decades.”
Peters’ bipartisan legislation – which he introduced with U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. – would establish a National Manufacturing Advisory Council made up of manufacturing, labor, and education leaders to advise both Congress and the Secretary of Commerce on how best to ensure the United States remains the top destination globally for investment in manufacturing. It would serve as a bridge between the manufacturing sector and federal government to improve communication and collaboration, and better support the industry and its workforce.
The National Manufacturing Advisory Council would meet at least twice a year to advise the Secretary of Commerce on policies and programs that impact U.S. manufacturing. It would also propose solutions to challenges and problems facing manufacturers in the United States. The Advisory Council would be required to:
• Identify and assess the effects of technological developments, production capacity, skill availability, investment patterns, and emerging needs for United States manufacturing competitiveness.
• Solicit input from the public and private sectors – including businesses and labor groups – as well as academia on emerging trends in manufacturing.
• Provide recommendations to the Secretary addressing global and domestic manufacturing trends threatening the U.S. manufacturing sector, including supply chain interruptions, logistical challenges, and technological changes. The Advisory Council would also advise the Secretary on ways to increase federal attention with respect to manufacturing – as well as matters relating to the U.S. manufacturing workforce such as the impact of new technology and worker training and education priorities.
• Identify regulatory issues encountered by the domestic manufacturing sector and provide advice on how to mitigate issues through a favorable environment for manufacturers, workers, and consumers.
“This initiative, the National Manufacturing Advisory Council Act, is designed to improve the resources and support for our nation’s small and medium-size manufacturers, which are a truly vital driver of our economy. I applaud Sen. Peters for his steadfast, unwavering commitment to American manufacturing,” said Ingrid Tighe, President of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, the Michigan representative of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), praised Peters for the legislation that he says will “improve the federal government’s planning and coordination of efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing.”
“Recent supply chain disruptions have made clear that it is time for the United States to shore up its critical manufacturing capabilities, which will not only better prepare us for the next crisis but also create jobs and boost the economy,” Paul said. “This increased coordination between the many programs designed to support our manufacturers and their workers is an important step towards rebuilding our industrial base.”
Peters’ National Manufacturing Advisory Council for the 21st Century Act is also supported by the American Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC).
“This council will be a forum for manufacturers and other key stakeholders to provide input to the Department of Commerce (DOC) on important long-range issues such as workforce, supply chain, technology, and defense industrial base,” said Ana Meuwissen, senior vice president of government affairs for the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). “The NMAC legislation would also foster better coordination of federal manufacturing policy in the DOC and across the federal government.”
EGLE Opens Public Comment on Line 5 Permit
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has opened public comment for Enbridge Energy’s permit application seeking authorization for surface facilities associated with the proposed Line 5 tunnel project under the Straits of Mackinac.
This application applies to Part 303, Wetlands Protection, and Part 325, Great Lakes Submerged Lands, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended. A public notice was published on July 16 which officially starts EGLE’s full review of the proposed project.
Due to the substantial public interest in the application, the public notice period will run from now through Aug. 29, 2025.
Two virtual meetings will be held during the public notice period. One is an informational session on Aug. 12, with a question-and-answer format regarding the application and EGLE’s review process. The second is a formal public hearing on Aug. 19, where comments will be received for the record.
Additional comments will be accepted online through Aug. 29. The public can comment on EGLE’s public notice webpage.
During this time, EGLE will review the application and information provided by the applicant, collect and consider public comments, continue tribal consultations, and continue to coordinate with other agencies and partners. It is common during this official review process for EGLE to request that the applicant consider additional modifications to the project and provide additional information in response to this ongoing review and coordination with other state agencies and other parties.
If constructed, the tunnel would house a proposed replacement for the more than 70-year-old Line 5 dual-product pipelines currently lying on the lakebed.
This application applies to Part 303, Wetlands Protection, and Part 325, Great Lakes Submerged Lands, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended. A public notice was published on July 16 which officially starts EGLE’s full review of the proposed project.
Due to the substantial public interest in the application, the public notice period will run from now through Aug. 29, 2025.
Two virtual meetings will be held during the public notice period. One is an informational session on Aug. 12, with a question-and-answer format regarding the application and EGLE’s review process. The second is a formal public hearing on Aug. 19, where comments will be received for the record.
Additional comments will be accepted online through Aug. 29. The public can comment on EGLE’s public notice webpage.
During this time, EGLE will review the application and information provided by the applicant, collect and consider public comments, continue tribal consultations, and continue to coordinate with other agencies and partners. It is common during this official review process for EGLE to request that the applicant consider additional modifications to the project and provide additional information in response to this ongoing review and coordination with other state agencies and other parties.
If constructed, the tunnel would house a proposed replacement for the more than 70-year-old Line 5 dual-product pipelines currently lying on the lakebed.
Legislation Introduced to Bring Back Cursive Writing
State Rep. Brenda Carter, D-Pontiac, has introduced legislation in the Michigan House that would encourage the reintroduction of cursive writing in public schools.
House Bill 4675, introduced last month, would require the Michigan Department of Education to develop a list of model programs for cursive handwriting instruction.
“Many children today are not being taught how to read or write in cursive — a foundational skill that not only enables them to sign their own name, but also gives them access to important historical documents, including many of our nation’s founding texts,” Carter said in a news release.
Carter had introduced similar legislation in each of her past terms as a lawmaker, and in its most recent form, her bill passed the House with bipartisan support.
“I’m going to keep going to bat for this policy because of how important it is. This is a commonsense step to help ensure our students aren’t left behind when it comes to a skill that connects them to both practical tasks and our shared history and culture,” Carter said.
Carter’s bill has been referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
House Bill 4675, introduced last month, would require the Michigan Department of Education to develop a list of model programs for cursive handwriting instruction.
“Many children today are not being taught how to read or write in cursive — a foundational skill that not only enables them to sign their own name, but also gives them access to important historical documents, including many of our nation’s founding texts,” Carter said in a news release.
Carter had introduced similar legislation in each of her past terms as a lawmaker, and in its most recent form, her bill passed the House with bipartisan support.
“I’m going to keep going to bat for this policy because of how important it is. This is a commonsense step to help ensure our students aren’t left behind when it comes to a skill that connects them to both practical tasks and our shared history and culture,” Carter said.
Carter’s bill has been referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
