Latest news with #MLPP
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Finding strength in difficult times: MLPP looks at investing for the future
President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy Monique Stanton speaks at the league's public policy forum in Lansing on Mar. 13, 2025. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols There's a long road ahead for organizations committed to promoting economic and racial justice, but it's important to keep fighting for fair systems for Michiganders, Monique Stanton, president and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy, said during the group's public policy forum in Lansing Thursday. A top of line issue cited by MLPP during the forum is the future of Medicaid, which covers the health care costs of more than 2.6 million Michiganders. With the Trump administration's failed federal spending freeze and Republicans in Congress proposing large-scale slashes both threatening Medicaid, Stanton said it's time to recognize the strength organizations have to work together to hold fast to promoting the social safety net. And the intent of some of the moves by the Trump administration and other federal players is clear, Stanton said: To exhaust organizations, make citizens overwhelmed and cause fear. 'So much of the work we do is coming under direct and malicious attack by our federal administration,' Stanton said. 'We refuse to back down on this work and when things are especially hard, like right now, I do believe that it's especially important to recognize some of the wins that have had when we have them.' Though the final days of the first in decades bicameral Democratic majority in the Michigan Legislature in the previous session ended in confusion and disorder, there were a few bills that made it into law that will work to promote prosperity, Stanton said. As Michigan faces an affordable housing crisis, Stanton said MLPP was happy to see the package of bills prohibiting landlords from denying a person the ability to rent housing due to source of income, including government subsidies, make it into law. Other wins for the league include legislation aimed at promoting maternal health care access, expanding eligibility for freestanding birth centers and increasing benefits for unemployed Michiganders in between jobs, Stanton said. There's interest in keeping momentum going for setting Michiganders up for success, the league's Fiscal Policy Director Rachel Richards told Michigan Advance. But as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer continues her goal of increasing PreK enrollment, Richards said the league would like to see a more 'holistic' look at early childhood development as state budget talks are underway. 'Under that umbrella, we also really need to make sure that we're taking care of our infants and toddlers who quite often require the most expensive care. They would require the most one-on-one care,' Richards said. 'We think that that piece was kind of really left out of the governor's budget recommendation.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Whitmer, Senate Democrats focus on policies targeting littlest Michiganders
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Democrats in the Michigan Senate spent Wednesday highlighting policies targeting Michigan's littlest residents, with the governor celebrating uptake in her free pre-k program while state lawmakers called for a massive expansion of Michigan's social safety net for families with young children. At the Livonia Early Childcare Center, Whitmer said over the last two years, enrollment in Michigan's free pre-K program has increased by 24%. She said 56% of Michigan four-year-olds are enrolled, calling it the highest share in over a decade. The data on the number of four-year-olds enrolled in free pre-K programs this school year comes from school districts' preliminary reports, according to a press release from Whitmer's office. But there remains a huge gap between the number of families with four-year-olds eligible for free pre-K and those with children enrolled in the program. In Michigan, those with a household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines ($124,800 or less for a family of four in 2024) can access free pre-k under the state's current budget. That covers about 77% of four-year-olds, according to a Michigan League of Public Policy (MLPP) analysis of census data. That leaves about a 21-percentage-point gap between the number of four-year-olds enrolled in free pre-K and the number who are eligible for the program under the current income threshold, according to the data provided by Whitmer and MLPP. Those with higher household incomes may access a free pre-k slot for their four-year-olds depending on availability, but the program gives priority to those below 400% of federal poverty guidelines. Whitmer said she wants to see more families take advantage of free pre-K. "Some parents choose not to send their kids or they home school and that's fine. But for everyone who is not doing that we want them to take advantage of this opportunity," Whitmer told reporters after a press conference in Livonia Wednesday. In addition to helping children, free pre-K also saves families money, she said. U.P. GOP lawmaker: Cash aid program is not 'just a flat out government handout' Democratic state lawmakers rolled out other policy proposals aimed at cutting costs for families. They unveiled proposals Wednesday to create a $5,500 tax credit for eligible working families with children under three years old. Those eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit would qualify for the proposed tax credit, which Senate Democrats have called the "Working Parents Tax Credit. Proponents characterize it as a way to provide support for parents and boost labor force participation, particularly of women. Senate Democrats also proposed expanding a cash program for pregnant women and babies. Under the program, pregnant women, regardless of income, would receive $1,500 initially and then $500 every month during the first year of their baby's life. The program — called Rx Kids — started in Flint and recently expanded to Kalamazoo and parts of the Upper Peninsula. "When babies are born into and grow up in poverty, it is a pathogen. It makes kids sick," said Flint pediatrician and Rx Kids Director Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha at a press conference Wednesday where she joined Senate Democrats. "Rx Kids is a prescription for health, hope and opportunity." Republicans have eyed an income tax cut as a way to provide relief for families, introducing House legislation to reduce the state income tax rate from 4.25% to 4.05%. "So many families are struggling right now just to keep up with rising costs — whether it's groceries, gas, housing, or child care," said bill sponsor Kathy Schmaltz, R-Jackson, in a March 5 statement. She suggested state government doesn't need all of the tax revenue collected from the current income tax and should put that money in the pockets of Michigan workers. "Republicans continue to support providing real tax relief to Michiganders and shrinking the size of state government," said Senate Minority Leader and GOP gubernatorial candidate Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, in a statement Wednesday responding to the proposals of Senate Democrats. Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@ or 313-296-5743. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Democrats eye tax credit, cash program for young families
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Whitmer, Senate Democrats focus on policies targeting littlest Michiganders
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Democrats in the Michigan Senate spent Wednesday highlighting policies targeting Michigan's littlest residents, with the governor celebrating uptake in her free pre-k program while state lawmakers called for a massive expansion of Michigan's social safety net for families with young children. At the Livonia Early Childcare Center, Whitmer said over the last two years, enrollment in Michigan's free pre-K program has increased by 24%. She said 56% of Michigan four-year-olds are enrolled, calling it the highest share in over a decade. The data on the number of four-year-olds enrolled in free pre-K programs this school year comes from school districts' preliminary reports, according to a press release from Whitmer's office. But there remains a huge gap between the number of families with four-year-olds eligible for free pre-K and those with children enrolled in the program. In Michigan, those with a household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines ($124,800 or less for a family of four in 2024) can access free pre-k under the state's current budget. That covers about 77% of four-year-olds, according to a Michigan League of Public Policy (MLPP) analysis of census data. That leaves about a 21-percentage-point gap between the number of four-year-olds enrolled in free pre-K and the number who are eligible for the program under the current income threshold, according to the data provided by Whitmer and MLPP. Those with higher household incomes may access a free pre-k slot for their four-year-olds depending on availability, but the program gives priority to those below 400% of federal poverty guidelines. Whitmer said she wants to see more families take advantage of free pre-K. "Some parents choose not to send their kids or they home school and that's fine. But for everyone who is not doing that we want them to take advantage of this opportunity," Whitmer told reporters after a press conference in Livonia Wednesday. In addition to helping children, free pre-K also saves families money, she said. U.P. GOP lawmaker: Cash aid program is not 'just a flat out government handout' Democratic state lawmakers rolled out other policy proposals aimed at cutting costs for families. They unveiled proposals Wednesday to create a $5,500 tax credit for eligible working families with children under three years old. Those eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit would qualify for the proposed tax credit, which Senate Democrats have called the "Working Parents Tax Credit. Proponents characterize it as a way to provide support for parents and boost labor force participation, particularly of women. Senate Democrats also proposed expanding a cash program for pregnant women and babies. Under the program, pregnant women, regardless of income, would receive $1,500 initially and then $500 every month during the first year of their baby's life. The program — called Rx Kids — started in Flint and recently expanded to Kalamazoo and parts of the Upper Peninsula. "When babies are born into and grow up in poverty, it is a pathogen. It makes kids sick," said Flint pediatrician and Rx Kids Director Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha at a press conference Wednesday where she joined Senate Democrats. "Rx Kids is a prescription for health, hope and opportunity." Republicans have eyed an income tax cut as a way to provide relief for families, introducing House legislation to reduce the state income tax rate from 4.25% to 4.05%. "So many families are struggling right now just to keep up with rising costs — whether it's groceries, gas, housing, or child care," said bill sponsor Kathy Schmaltz, R-Jackson, in a March 5 statement. She suggested state government doesn't need all of the tax revenue collected from the current income tax and should put that money in the pockets of Michigan workers. "Republicans continue to support providing real tax relief to Michiganders and shrinking the size of state government," said Senate Minority Leader and GOP gubernatorial candidate Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, in a statement Wednesday responding to the proposals of Senate Democrats. Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@ or 313-296-5743. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Democrats eye tax credit, cash program for young families
