Mackinac Center for Public Policy

Overview

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a free-market think tank headquartered in Midland, Michigan, focused on state and local policy issues including education, labor, energy, taxation and government transparency. Founded in 1987, it is described as the largest state-based conservative think tank in the United States and a member of the State Policy Network.

Key functions and role

The Center publishes research reports, op-eds and the Michigan Capitol Confidential news outlet, and maintains MichiganVotes.org, a nonpartisan database summarizing every bill and vote in the Michigan Legislature, along with the VoteSpotter mobile app that has since expanded to track legislators nationwide. Its affiliated Mackinac Center Legal Foundation pursues litigation on issues such as government transparency and executive authority, and the Center has trained more than 600 think-tank executives from dozens of countries as part of its broader movement-building work.

History

A group of Michigan citizens, including insurance executives Joe Olson and Tom Hoeg and attorney Richard McLellan, conceived the organization at a meeting in Lansing, and it formally opened offices in Midland in 1988 under founding president Lawrence W. Reed. Mackinac Center senior vice president Joseph Overton originated the concept of the "Overton window," describing the range of policy ideas considered politically acceptable at a given time. In 2020, the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation successfully challenged Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's use of emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a Michigan Supreme Court ruling against the governor.

Political positions

The Mackinac Center is widely described as a conservative or free-market think tank and is a member of the State Policy Network, a national network of state-level free-market policy organizations. Watchdog groups including SourceWatch have documented funding from the DeVos and Walton families and from Donors Capital Fund, and have reported on Mackinac Center advocacy for right-to-work legislation and against public-sector union collective bargaining.

Leadership

Joseph G. Lehman has served as President since September 1, 2008, succeeding founding president Lawrence W. Reed, who became President Emeritus. Michael Reitz has served as Executive Vice President.

Location and contact info

Address
140 West Main Street, P.O. Box 568
Midland, MI 48640, USA
Phone
(989) 631-0900
Email
mcpp@mackinac.org
Website
https://www.mackinac.org