This time it's the "Michigan Coalition of State Employee Unions" writing the check for a study by MSU economist Charles Ballard arguing that "state workers earn about the same or less than their private sector counterparts with the same education," as the Lansing State Journal described it.

Interestingly, it appears that PR and media distribution* for the study is being handled by the "Byrum-Fisk Advocacy Communications" agency, the same outfit that carried the PR ball for another union gambit, the notorious "Reform Michigan Government Now" ballot proposal last summer. Recall that the smoking gun powerpoint showing the true purposes of RMGN was discovered by a Mackinac Center intern on a UAW web site.

The author of the powerpoint was never definitively identified, but the "tmorgan" initials on it match those of a member of "Our Team" on the Byrum-Fisk web site. Byrum-Fisk founder Diane Byrum, a former Democratic caucus leader in the state House, was the RMGN initiative's spokesperson. (Partner Mark Fisk was the caucus's communications director.)

That's not the only connection. Both before and after the Mackinac Center exposed that RMGN powerpoint - which revealed that the measure was a Trojan horse concocted to consolidate Democratic Party control of Michigan state government and so protect the perks and positions of state employees - Ballard was an eager advocate. Early on the Center for Michigan - for whom Ballard occasionally does work - expressed unease over some of the measure's provisions, and he responded with glowing recitation of its benefits, quoted at length on their web site. (Following the exposure of he RMGN powerpoint the CFM formally opposed the measure.)

Even after the  powerpoint's release Ballard was still singing its praises, writing in the Detroit News, "Michiganians interested in good government and real reform should seriously consider a ballot proposal called Reform Michigan Government Now."

* Apparently, links to Ballard's current union-funded product can't be found on MSU's web site, but only on SEIU and other union web sites. Byrum Fisk included the study as an attachment in their emails to media outlets.