We’re pleased to feature this guest blog post by Ashley Burnside, Policy Analyst for the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). The original version appeared on June 21, 2021. Ashley Burnside, CLASP Lawmakers have temporarily expanded the Child Tax Credit (CTC) available to families with children in 2021. This policy is anticipated reduce child poverty […]
There are 1.4 billion reasons for a bipartisan investment in childcare
A version of this column appeared in Michigan Advance After years of restrictive policies that prevented most families from receiving any assistance with their child care costs, coupled with very low wages for child care workers, COVID-19 lifted the veil on the underlying reality that without child care, businesses can’t attract and keep talent, and […]
The Legislature Needs to Strengthen Unemployment Insurance, Not Weaken It
A version of this column appeared in Michigan Advance COVID-altered life in Michigan continues to reveal the inadequacy of many of our state’s social policies and safety net systems, and a new report from the Michigan League for Public Policy demonstrates how Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance policies are falling short in providing an adequate and effective […]
Money Talks, Voters Walk
Interesting contrast between 2 major Supreme Court decisions announced today. First in Brnovich v. DNC the court upheld an Arizona law which requires ballots cast in the wrong precinct be discarded and prohibits anyone other than immediate family, mail carriers and election officials from delivering ballots to the polling place.
Writing for the majority, Justice Alito acknowledged that while “every voting rule imposes a burden of some sort.” Arizona argued such burdens are needed to combat election fraud. A position Altio seemed to accept writing “one strong and entirely legitimate state interest is the prevention of fraud.”
Even when there is no such evidence of fraud because it’s important to maintain public trust in elections.
In the second case, AFPF v. Bonta, the court strikes down a California law requiring charities to disclose their donors to the state (not publicly). The court ruled that such disclosures are an unconstitutional violation of donors First Amendment rights. To me, the important consideration here is that over the last 10 years dark money groups have spent over $1 billion in US elections. Dark money groups are typically 501c4 Social Welfare organizations, groups which now have Supreme Court approval to spend unlimited money influencing elections from hidden sources.
Even though dark money spending undermines public trust in elected officials.
Is there seriously anyone that would argue that secret donors spending unlimited sums to get candidates elections is not corrupting on elections? The Supreme Court has ruled that it’s reasonable to apply limitations on voting to maintain election integrity, but apparently transparency for billions in political spending is asking too much.
The end result is we’re likely to see more “burdens” on voting and even more secret money in politics.
The CTC: Helping Kids by Helping Parents
As a parent, I know how expensive it can be to raise a child. It seems that every time I look at him, he’s grown out of his shoes again, put a new hole in the knees of his jeans, or needs something new for school. And that doesn’t even take into consideration the things […]
Public News Service: Report: MI in Middle of the Pack for Kids’ Care
Michigan ranked 28th in the country for overall child well-being and 41st in education as of 2019, according to a new report. The 2021 Kids Count Databook from the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that Michigan had been making progress before the pandemic, with 18% of children living in poverty in 2019 compared to 23% in 2010. Kelsey […]
Unemployment Insurance is not to Blame for So-Called Labor Shortage
A version of this column originally appeared in Michigan Advance. We’ve all seen the recent news coverage and memes going around about some businesses’ struggles finding workers right now. A coworker of mine even said one local fast food restaurant was putting mini job applications in with every drive-thru order. But while this is certainly […]
Lansing State Journal: Pandemic shows us more than ever how important a college education can be
Education in Michigan is an ever-present discussion of pandemic crisis after crisis. And despite monumental efforts this year, we’re still facing a big crisis: the consistent decline of college enrollment. Even before COVID-19, we saw year-after-year declines in college enrollment beginning in 2014. Students already facing the greatest disparities are those being affected the most. Read […]
Now Hiring: Kids Count in Michigan Early Childhood Data Analyst
Job Description Michigan League for Public Policy Kids Count in Michigan Early Childhood Data Analyst The Michigan League for Public Policy is a statewide advocacy organization that works to promote economic security and well-being for all people in Michigan through the policymaking process using a race equity lens. Kids Count in Michigan, a project at […]
Huron Daily Tribune: Michigan improving in child well-being, per new report
On Monday, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released the 2021 Kids Count Data Book, a 50-state report of recent household data analyzing how families have fared between the Great Recession and the last year before the COVID-19 crisis. In response, the Michigan League for Public Policy also released its own version of the report, centered […]