I'm Endorsing Mike Behm For Regent
So I'm about to break the no politics rule. I regret this, but…
1. If I'm going to run for regent that has to happen anyway.
2. I am only going to do this for Michigan regent.
3. I don't think regent is a particularly partisan position—see the lack of transparency as to how they operate and the lack of "no" votes.
4. I am not a registered anything. I don't like politics for the same reason I don't like coachspeak. I would strongly prefer regent elections to be nonpartisan, but they're not. This is life.
![3cb5b7_8c03f722ad39472180da8cc8505050fa.png_srz_p_359_100_75_22_0.50_1.20_0[1]](https://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/images/Behm-endorsement_12EAC/3cb5b7_8c03f722ad39472180da8cc8505050fa.png_srz_p_359_100_75_22_0.50_1.20_01.png "3cb5b7_8c03f722ad39472180da8cc8505050fa.png_srz_p_359_100_75_22_0.50_1.20_0[1]")
All right, that said: when the regents' candidate forum was canceled on October 8th (it is now Friday at 4 PM, be there or be square) for scheduling issues, one guy still came into town because he was planning to do so anyway. He did a number of previously-scheduled in-person interviews, then emailed me. We got a couple beers at Ashley's, and we talked about the state of the regents, what was wrong about the current setup, and how to fix it. That guy is Mike Behm, and I'm endorsing him for regent.
This is not because he uses MGoBehm.com for his web presence. Mostly not.
Behm is a lawyer who graduated from Michigan in '89 with a BA in English with deep Michigan roots—his dad played football and ran track in the 50s. He went to the Rose Bowl in '89 as a student, and he reads the blog. I asked him to boil down his philosophy and goals into a few hundred words, and he's done so.
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Q: What is the most important issue facing the University right now?
A: Affordability and accessibility. Over the past four decades, the State of Michigan has drastically reduced its financial support of the University. Thirty-five years ago, the State of Michigan covered 70% of U of M's costs, with the other 30% being paid for by tuition and endowment. Today, only 30% of the costs are covered by the State. I would like to see the State of Michigan invest in one of its most valuable assets, and increase its funding for U of M. But because of today's economic environment, I don't believe there is going to be a drastic increase of state funding. This being the case, I believe it is very important to examine the present cost structure of the University and cut and reduce unnecessary costs at all levels, including administration and operations.
Next, I would like to investigate ways to lower interest rates on student loans. Presently, banks borrow money at a rate that is nine times less than the average student loan. New legislation that has been introduced recently (Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act) that would help to lower student loan rates. If the government is not successful in reducing student loan interest rates, I would act to direct U of M's newest endowment program (Victors for Michigan) to provide low interest loans to our students.
Q: What are your thoughts regarding U of M's compliance with the open meetings act?
A: While I understand the need to protect individual's rights of privacy when it comes to limited circumstances such as some personnel issues. I am a firm believer that the Board of Regents would benefit from seriously listening to the concerns of the public. In addition to having Regents meetings where decisions are made with public comment and public interaction, I would use other ways for the Regents to gather information. For example, while the composition of the Board of Regents cannot be changed without involving the State of Michigan Constitution, I would propose forming advisory committees. I am in favor of forming small separate committees of students, faculty members, and supporters of the Athletic Department so that they can meet with and advise the Board of Regents when it comes to making important decisions.
In addition to being an attorney, I serve as Chairperson of Business Forward Michigan, an organization that helps local business leaders from Michigan advise Washington on how to create jobs and accelerate our economic recovery. The present Board of Regents seems to conduct business like politicians in Washington, in an isolated and deaf manner. Like what I do with Business Forward, I will work to help the Regents make decisions with the help of many informed and concerned voices.
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While the above issues are obviously more important than the athletic department, we talked about that, too, and he'd support a change at the top there.
The above language is a little stiff, I know, but in talking to him it was clear he deeply cared about the university and was basically just a guy who wanted to help out. He's not much interested in serious political office; the opportunity to help the U out was a different matter. I think you should vote for him, no matter your political affiliation.
-Brian
October 21st, 2014 at 4:05 PM ^
Sure this guy looks pretty awesome, but without somebody else to compare him to it is hard to know for sure I would vote for him. Can somebody give me a run down of what's happening? If you're wondering, yes I am a Michigan voter.
October 22nd, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^
His opponents all want to raise tuition and give Dave Brandon lifetime tenure.
October 21st, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 4:12 PM ^
"I regret this, but…"
Are you going to regret this, or do you already regret this?
October 21st, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^
I love how folks criticize Brian for "breaking" his own rules for his own blog.
Hey, if ya don't like it, start your own.
Student loans are the reason for the higher education bubble, which will burst.
That is what bubbles do.
The clock is not getting turned back as far as the state kicking in the lion's share.
Increased tuition was possible because of student loans, and, the additional income was shoved into administration.
So, cut that, and tuition should go down.
October 21st, 2014 at 5:21 PM ^
As long as college graduates have a higher employment rate and the wage premium exists, the bubble will not burst.
October 21st, 2014 at 6:58 PM ^
But not all universities are as expensive as U-M. You can get a college education for less elsewhere. That's the potential danger for U-M and other flagship universities.
October 21st, 2014 at 4:14 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^
to simply delete all the comments in this post and prevent any further comments. Not the most solid decision to allow comments on a topic like this one.
October 21st, 2014 at 4:29 PM ^
Brian endorsed the guy because he sees eye to eye with him on Michigan athletics and loves the University. There's nothing controversial about these items given the readership here. So some jackass(es) feel compelled to go directly for the political aspect of it (ambulance chasing dem lawyer). Who cares? The best response here is not to respond at all other than by criticizing/downvoting political debate in general (in this forum).
October 21st, 2014 at 5:42 PM ^
It's really just one guy who got downvoted a ton. People arguing about whether this is a good direction to go in have a point; it's something I weighed myself.
October 21st, 2014 at 6:28 PM ^
... I'm surprised you did it, but glad you did it as well. You care about the school, and you want to see positive change. If people (in this case, person), can't see beyond party affiliation in weighing the merits of an indiviudal, it says more about them and the sad state of our political discourse than it does anything else.
That being said, I can't wait to see the jackass that creates a thread endorsing a candidate from the other side of the aisle and say it has nothing to do with politics. Trolls are predictable, if nothing else.
October 21st, 2014 at 4:19 PM ^
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October 21st, 2014 at 4:23 PM ^
I always vote for Joe Sanger. He's the Ron Paul of Regents. or something.
October 21st, 2014 at 4:24 PM ^
I played hockey with Mike Behm growing up in Flint. His dad was the coach.
October 21st, 2014 at 7:09 PM ^
So tell us what he's really like.
October 21st, 2014 at 4:25 PM ^
Obviously, if Mike Behm is the only guy with whom you spoke and you liked him and his ideas, it makes sense that you'd get his endorsement. It's also your site so you're welcome to do as you please. I'll take your recommendation into consideration.
For the next go, assuming you don't run yourself, I'd like to hear from the other candidates. Regents don't have as big a megaphone as candidates further up the ticket. This site could serve as a means of vetting candidates.
However, you might find yourself without your own megaphone if you decide to run. "Fair elections" laws might prohibit you from having anything to do with this site should you decide to run. Decide carefully.
October 22nd, 2014 at 12:21 PM ^
For many reasons - but you are right about one implication, mgoblog would almost certainly have to give up their press pass and rebrand as a website and NOT MEDIA. Once you do that, mgoblog is just another website and you dont have to give other candidates squat on your website.
October 21st, 2014 at 4:28 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 5:01 PM ^
feelings about unions. I'll keep my thoughts on the topic private as I'm fairly certain no one around here cares how I feel about it. No one cares about yours either. We should stick to sports.
October 21st, 2014 at 9:23 PM ^
I don't know how to tell you this... Yes I do ! You're wife is on Mgoblog.
October 22nd, 2014 at 5:10 PM ^
Get real! He is also supported by teachers, plumbers, many Republicans, nurses, and many small business owners as well. He is now supported by me. Thank you Brian.
October 21st, 2014 at 4:31 PM ^
Regardless of announced political affiliation, anyone who wants to focus attention on the ridiculous tuition/extortion extracted from today's students deserves attention. I started in LSA at $140/semester back in the Ice Age (1962) and Law School at $400/semester in 1971. Total Law School tuition for 3 years was $2700. First job (admittedly big city, big firm) start was $17500/year. Investment in a Michigan law degree made a lot of sense.Try that ratio today with resident law tuition at $25,490/semester x6 = $152,940 (assuming no increases in the nest two years).
There needs to be a wholesale review of costs and administrative overhead. The loading of loans on the backs of students is wrong. Behm is headed in the right direction.
If if matters, I am 4th generation Michigan born (stuck in Illinois), 8th generation American veteran and (almost) always vote Republican.
October 21st, 2014 at 4:50 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^
A university regent is pretty far low down on the list of things to get politically polarized about. People who are excorciating Brian for outing himself as a leftist for endorsing a regent candidate who happens to be a Democrat should probably step the f. out of their glass houses.
Certainly this is a highly unusual gesture for a blog that's founded on covering Michigan's revenue teams. However, at its core, this love of our teams is bornedout of a love for our university. Moreover, this past month has shown more clearly than we'd ever imagine in our worst nightmares just how our athletic teams' fortunes are bound to the insular culture of the people Who Are In Charge of said university. Given all this, I would think it remiss of Brian to NOT make a statement about how we can affect positive change toward the regency of the University of Michigan, because if y'all haven't noticed things really HAVE gotten this bad.
October 21st, 2014 at 4:41 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^
What's his MGoBlog handle?
October 21st, 2014 at 5:22 PM ^
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October 21st, 2014 at 5:05 PM ^
I support Brian's right to use his blog for whatever he sees fit. I also support his right to endorse whomever he chooses and to publicize that endorsement in any way he chooses.
I do have two serious questions about the candidate:
1) As discussed above in the post by DAVE, I totally get the point about understanding and controlling costs. But what do interest rates have to do with that? Interest on student loans tends to be some of the most affordable interest available. The issue is the PRINCIPAL of the loans. Focusing on the interest is like focusing on a glass of water that spilled when the Titanic struck the iceberg.
2) What is "Business Forward Michigan"? I did some google searching and the only place I can find mention of it is in several different links where Behm himself has mentioned it (this article, a story in the Michigan Daily interviewing Behm, and in an independent source listing candidates with a Behm-provided profile. The reason I ask the question is that when I read the story, I assumed it was inaccurately referencing "Business Leaders for Michigan." BLM is a significant organization that is working to advance Michigan business. Behm has no affiliation with BLM. Conversely, I can't find any reference to anything Business Forward Michigan has actually accomplished.
So with that said, like any endorsement, I suggest you take the endorser's information, then do your own reserarch, then make your own choice. Behm might be the right guy for the job -- I just haven't decided for myself yet.
October 21st, 2014 at 5:12 PM ^
1. You referred to my post.
2. We signed up for the blog on the same day in 2008.
3. You actually Googled "Business Forward Michigan." Now I'm curious about it, too.
Dave
October 21st, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^
...I just looked up "Business Forward Michigan" on the Michigan LARA website and I couldn't find it listed. Even a non-profit would have to register, no? I mean, I see every iteration of "United Way of X" in there.
Dave
October 22nd, 2014 at 1:42 AM ^
EDIT: See Comments at the bottom.
I mean, when I google "Business Forward Michigan" the first thing I get is...something from the U-M Medical school?
This bothers me a LOT about the candidate. It feels very made up. And, in Brian's post, he just offers up the space for the candidate to answer the questions -- I think that's fine. Brian never promised to fact-check the comments for the blog post.
But the Michigan Daily did an article on him and just reported on the same "fact" as well. And in the Daily article, it is different. They devote a paragraph about the topic in the profile of the "former Daily staffer." And imply that they have researched this as well.
Aside from his work as a lawyer, Behm is also the chair of Business Forward Michigan, a group that connects local business leaders to politicians to discuss policy solutions to economic issues, and a co-founder of the Level Field Institute, which produces annual reports on automaker’s individual contributions to the economy.
Sloppy.
Say something enough times and people start to believe it. Get further evidence along the lines of, "As reported on MGoBlog and in the Michigan Daily..." and it gets more momentum.
Like you, Dave, if I'm missing something, I'd be happy to stand corrected. But in the blog post and the Daily Article, the topic stands uncorroborated.
EDIT: So I dug around some more. Business Forward Michigan isn't a thing. http://www.businessfwd.org/ is a thing. Check out the website if you are so inclined. Not sure if Behm was involved in founding it, or founding a branch of it in Michigan. I still find it bizarre that Behm references Business Forward Michigan specifically, since I can't find anything about that.
October 21st, 2014 at 5:38 PM ^
Who cares about the percentage a graduate pays on the loan when the principle itself is $50,000 to $100,000. Sure, you can blame the student for racking up an enormous debt but please don't blame the bank for taking the risk by loaning the money and charging a subsequent interest rate.
The major problem here is the soaring costs of tuition!
October 21st, 2014 at 4:53 PM ^
into politics. But Greymarch's comments above deserve a trip to Bolivia at least as long as those enjoyed by some of our noteworthy commentators.
October 21st, 2014 at 5:17 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 5:25 PM ^
I got a lotta problems with you people! Let's have the airing of grievances based on political ideology YEAH! Then we move on to RELIGION baby!
October 21st, 2014 at 5:39 PM ^
If his goal is to get the State of Michigan to pay 70% of tuition for in-state students again then everyone should pass.
I agree that tuition inflation in comparison to the inflation of everything else is insane. I think something needs to be done about it but the solution has to come from the University itself and not the taxpayers of Michigan. 1) Anyone who lives in state and gets a state sponsored education can easily leave the state (and many do). 2) The school knowing that the state will pick up a larger share of the tuition will raise prices further.
Tuition costs are out of hand and Michigan is close to pricing itself out of the market. Once people realize their degree is not a valid return on investment then they will apply elsewhere. This must happen!
Source: Mike Behm's website
October 21st, 2014 at 6:22 PM ^
He specifically says that he knows the state will never pay 70% again and, therefore, we need to look at other ways to address affordability.
October 21st, 2014 at 6:08 PM ^
"Tuition should be lower" - sure, and then you lose all your best faculty to competitor X because you have to stiff them with 1% 5 years in a row.
"Reduce unnecessary costs" - why does everyone always assume there's a ton of unnecessary cost to cut? Hint - there isn't. The top 5 public universities already spend ~1/3 per bachelor's degree compared the Ivy League. You're cutting bone at this point.
"Meetings should be more open" - until you go to the first two meetings and realize there's a reason you don't let the voting majority run your state's flagship research institution.
On the plus side, the guy seems nice enough. I doubt he could do any serious damage.
October 21st, 2014 at 6:26 PM ^
Tuition will never be lower. However, we can re-invest funds into the genreal scholarship/grant pool. That's actually one of the main focuses of the "Victors for Michigan" campaign.
I generally agree with you on point 2.
People always yell "transparency!" because it gets votes because everyone wants to be able to throw their two cents in. However, I'm ok with meeting in public without public input on meetings not involving personel searches that require confidentiality.
October 21st, 2014 at 7:00 PM ^
but how much tuition actually goes to faculty & other teaching staff (including GSIs, lecturers and adjuncts), vs adminsitration?
October 21st, 2014 at 6:50 PM ^
Just so you/Mr. Behm know going forward, the state funds nowhere near 30% of the Universities budget. The most recent published figure was 17% and it's trending down fast.
October 21st, 2014 at 8:31 PM ^
I believe if you look at the total budget of U of M, Ann Arbor, the funding is at 5 percent or less.
As state funding has decreased, OOS tutition, as well as the percentage of OOS attendees has carried the burden of costs. It's about 60 K for OOS students (undergrad) when all costs are included. A couple of years ago, OOS students comprised about 43-44 percent of undergrads, the highest on record at U of M.
October 21st, 2014 at 11:05 PM ^
Yeah I was actually surprised how high the 17% number was when I saw it listed. I'd also bet that it's much, much lower for the Ann Arbor campus alone. 30% was way out of wack.
October 21st, 2014 at 7:07 PM ^
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October 21st, 2014 at 7:14 PM ^
Shows up for a canceled meeting. Sounds like a dick--would not vote for.
October 21st, 2014 at 7:43 PM ^
And that right there is the democratic process in action.
October 21st, 2014 at 7:11 PM ^
Yes, lawyers are typically Democrats and those with a business sense (like Mr. Behm) are typically Republican. Flint is Democrat strong, but Grand Blanc (his home) is GOP strong. His views cross both party lines and for a change, this is refreshing in what should be a non-partisan election. His melting pot of ideas is what we need more of.
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