This column originally appeared in Michigan Advance on February 26, 2021 As an advocate, a former lawmaker, a mom and a grandma, I don’t need research to tell me that what happens in a child’s first three years is critical to the rest of their life. But if I did require research, there’s plenty of […]
Month: February 2021
Senate finds new ways to politicize, gum up vital COVID-19 relief for struggling residents
For Immediate Release Feb. 25, 2021 Contact: Alex Rossmanarossman@mlpp.org 517-775-9053 LANSING—The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement on the Michigan Senate’s passage today of COVID-related supplemental appropriations bills, Senate Bills 29 and 114. The statement can be attributed to League President and CEO Gilda Z. Jacobs. “First and foremost, this political maneuver […]
A first look at Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2022 state budget
Following an unusual budget cycle, with the COVID-19 pandemic interrupting typical budget deliberations and the need for a rare third revenue estimating conference before the 2021 budget was completed, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has presented her 2022 budget recommendation. While much of the 2021 budget was focused on the response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, […]
Poverty Task Force outlines concrete steps to tackle economic inequity in Michigan
For Immediate Release Feb. 17, 2021 Contact: Alex Rossmanarossman@mlpp.org 517-775-9053 Poverty Task Force outlines concrete steps to tackle economic inequity in Michigan LANSING—The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement on the Michigan Poverty Task Force’s policy recommendations released today. It can be attributed to League President and CEO Gilda Z. Jacobs. […]
Finally, Michigan offers financial aid to older students
This column originally appeared in Michigan Advance on February 15, 2021 This month, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the launch of Michigan Reconnect, a financial aid program that pays for two years of community college for Michigan residents 25 years or older. This is in addition to Futures for Frontliners, a program to offer free tuition for […]
Governor’s budget tackles pressing needs to counter COVID-19 health and economic crises
Yesterday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and new State Budget Director Dave Massaron released their 2022 budget proposal. The state budget is a big area of focus for the Michigan League for Public Policy each year, and also a big avenue for our policy wins each year. The League has always said that the state budget is […]
Governor’s budget tackles pressing needs to counter COVID-19 health and economic crises
For Immediate Release Feb. 11, 2021 Contact: Alex Rossmanarossman@mlpp.org517-775-9053 Key investments will improve child care access, tackle K-12 learning loss and expand education and job opportunities for Michigan workers LANSING—The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2022 budget proposal announced today. It can be attributed to League President […]
Piecemeal distribution of COVID supplemental funding puts politics before residents’ urgent needs
For Immediate Release Feb. 4, 2021 Contact:Alex Rossmanarossman@mlpp.org517-775-9053 Piecemeal distribution of COVID supplemental funding puts politics before residents’ urgent needs LANSING—The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement on the Michigan House of Representatives’ passage today of COVID-related supplemental appropriations bills, House Bills 4019, 4047, 4048 and 4049. The statement can be attributed […]
Working…together
A version of this column appeared in Michigan Advance on Feb. 1 Bipartisanship might not feel very plausible right now. But even after the “horrible year” our state and our nation have endured, including deep-seated and violent political division and outright insurrection over the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 presidential election, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer still […]
League raises concerns with piecewise approach to COVID supplemental funding
For Immediate Release Feb. 3, 2021 Contact: Alex Rossmanarossman@mlpp.org 517-775-9053 Michigan residents’ urgent needs should outweigh politics LANSING—The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement on the House Appropriations Committee’s party-line passage this morning of COVID-related supplemental appropriations bills, House Bills 4019, 4047, 4048 and 4049. The full House could vote on these […]