Kathy Barks Hoffman

• Michigan House won't take up health exchange

  By Kathy Barks Hoffman  |  July 18, 2012

  A rift among Michigan's Republican lawmakers means Gov. Rick Snyder won't get the House approval he wants Wednesday to start work on a website for purchasing health insurance that's required under the federal health care law.

• Michigan mulls joint state-federal health exchange

  By Kathy Barks Hoffman  |  June 27, 2012

  Republican Gov. Rick Snyder's administration is considering partnering with the federal government to run a health insurance exchange because Michigan is running out of time to set up its own if the U.S. Supreme Court holds up one of the key provisions of the federal health care overhaul.

• Michigan legislative leaders OK income tax cut

  By Kathy Barks Hoffman  |  May 24, 2012

  A budget deal was reached that will put $130 million toward school employees' future retirement health care costs.

• Michigan expects about $300M more in budget revenue

  By Kathy Barks Hoffman  |  May 17, 2012

  The money may be set aside in case the state loses legal fights over collecting income taxes on public pensions or having state workers pay more of their pension costs.

• Michigan fiscal agencies see revenue changes

  By Kathy Barks Hoffman  |  May 15, 2012

  Increases to taxes on individual retirement income are expected to total $1.4 billion, while business tax cuts will total about $1.9 billion.

• School workers object to proposed benefit changes

  By Kathy Barks Hoffman  |  April 12, 2012

  Hundreds of active and retired teachers and other school employees crowded into a Senate hearing Wednesday to voice concerns that proposed changes to their retirement benefits would unfairly push more costs onto them and even drive some out of education.

• Michigan school workers object to proposed benefit changes

  By Kathy Barks Hoffman  |  April 11, 2012

  A retirement committee is considering a bill under which all school employees would continue to pay at least 3 percent of salary toward retiree health care.

• Michigan governor says progress made on Detroit finances

  By Kathy Barks Hoffman  |  March 27, 2012

  Detroit faces a $200 million budget deficit and could run out of cash by May, raising concerns for its liabilities for pensions, health care and bonds.

• Snyder signs bills lowering worker benefits, costs

  By Kathy Barks Hoffman  |  December 20, 2011

  Michigan employers are likely to save money on unemployment insurance and worker's compensation under changes signed into law Monday by Gov. Rick Snyder. Critics, though, said the moves could make it more difficult for injured and jobless workers to get the benefits they need.

• Snyder unveils new initiative to remake workforce

  By Kathy Barks Hoffman  |  December 1, 2011

  Gov. Rick Snyder wants to tie retraining programs to companies' needs, erase barriers keeping welfare recipients from work and encourage more Michigan residents to earn math and science degrees under an initiative aimed at making workers more competitive in the global marketplace.