News Story

Michigan’s Right-To-Work Law Improves Lives But 'Screwing Up' Media Narratives

Incomes here were falling before law went into effect, have risen since

A few weeks after Michigan’s new right-to-work policy was signed into law — but a little more than two months before it went into effect — the Detroit Free Press published this graphic, produced by cartoonist Mike Thompson, on Jan. 13, 2013.

 

In the eight years before Michigan adopted right-to-work, it had been dead last among the states for growth in its gross domestic product. In the eight years since, its growth rate rose from last place to to 32nd.

From 2005 to 2012, Michigan’s inflation-adjusted median household income fell 13.4%. From 2012 to 2019, it rose by 14.2%.

Michigan’s poverty rate increased from 13.2% to 17.4% from 2005 to 2012. The number living in poverty here fell from 17.4% to 13.0% in the eight years after right-to-work became the law.

Figures from the year 2020 are not included due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

News Story

Bronson Health COVID Letter Misstates Several Key Statistics

The Bronson health care system posted an open letter on Sept. 1 that made several misleading claims.

The letter advocates for people to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

Here are the questionable claims made:

Claim #1: “Nationally, approximately 99% of individuals dying from COVID-19 are unvaccinated.”

This statistic relies on data from periods when only a small portion of the population was eligible for a vaccine. More recent statistics suggests that a larger share of COVID-19 patients and deaths are vaccinated individuals. For example, in the state of Michigan, the most recent data on breakthrough cases shows those vaccinated accounted for 23% of cases, 21% of hospitalizations and 18% of deaths from Aug. 1-Aug. 30.

Claim #2: “In fact, it is most alarming that pediatric hospitalizations are on the rise due to the complications of COVID-19 infection. As kids return to school, the most important thing parents can do is get them vaccinated as soon as they’re eligible and urge everyone in your family to mask up in public.”

There has been a large percentage increase in pediatric hospitalizations of patients with a confirmed positive test, the number of cases remains small.

On Aug. 9, there were seven confirmed pediatric cases in Michigan that tested positive for COVID-19. That number increased to 16 as of Sept. 8.

Claim #3: “We are seeing our emergency rooms and hospital beds and intensive care units fill up again with this fourth surge of COVID-19, with more than 1,000 individuals now hospitalized with a preventable virus.”

The statewide hospital bed occupancy rate was 77% as of Sept. 8. None of the 132 hospitals surveyed reported being over capacity.

According to the state, from Sept. 1-7, only 6% of the inpatient beds are being used by patients who tested positive for COVID-19.

Statewide, 2,410 of the 3,038 ICU beds were occupied, or 79%. None of the state’s eight regions reported being over capacity for ICU beds.

As of Sept. 5, the seven-day average for emergency room visits from people arrived with COVID-like symptoms was 1.1%

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.