State Budget/Economy
April 10, 2012 testimony to the Senate Committee on Community Health
As you make final decisions on the Department of Community Health budget, I am writing on behalf of the Michigan League for Human Services to encourage you and your colleagues to consider the long-term impacts of your decisions, not just a short-term goal of reaching a dollar target. As you know, health care needs do not diminish when funding for services is reduced or eliminated; they often escalate and become more expensive to treat or resolve. Please keep in mind that your decisions directly impact people’s lives and are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. Read more.
March 29, 2012 testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Community Health
The Michigan League for Human Services supports the absence of major reductions in the Medicaid program, and strongly supports the governor’s recommended increase to expand Healthy Kids dental to about 125,000 Medicaid-eligible children.
Testimony on Community Health
March 27 testimony on performance-based funding for higher education
Gov. Snyder’s Executive Budget contains some welcome performance-based metrics but needs to go further to help low-income students and low-skilled adults get the education they need.
Testimony on Higher Education
Testimony on Community Colleges
Executive Budget FY 2013: Second Verse Same as the First
Gov. Snyder’s second Executive Budget recommendation is primarily a continuation budget from Fiscal Year 2012, but it does contain some small increases in funding for important public structures and programs.
The state ended FY 11 with an approximate $700 million surplus between the School Aid Fund and the General Fund. The Executive Budget recommends appropriating $130 million into the Budget Stabilization Fund rather than using it to help families still struggling to recover from the economic downturn. Read more.
How the budget can create economic opportunity
Everyone in Michigan deserves a chance to achieve their full potential and contribute back to the economy. Where a person starts out in life should not determine where they end up. The state budget has the ability to level the playing field and create equitable access to opportunity for all Michigan residents. March 2012. Read more.
Executive summary.
Press release.
Blog.
Corrections Budget: A Failure to Plan for the Future
Our priorities as a state are reflected every year in the enacted state budget. Investing in our communities on the front end benefits everyone and makes for safer neighborhood, according to an analysis on corrections spending. February 2012.
Read the full report.
Read the executive summary.
Michigan children and families: How they fare in the FY12 budget
Fact sheet on the FY 12 budget and the impact on families and children. January 2012
Real People, Real Facts, Real Fallout
Did you know that recent policy changes mean more than $550 million will no longer be spent in our economy? Did you know that family members who have been receiving cash assistance while they take care of a disabled child or spouse will be cut off after five years, regardless of the health of the disabled family member? Did you know that to meet the emergency food needs of the families who will lose food assistance due to asset testing, the emergency food system will need to grow more than 300 percent? October 2011.
Real People, Real Facts, Real Fallout
FY 2012 Budget: Quick Draw Budget Misses Mark
The fiscal year 2012 budget was adopted in record time this year, but the impact of the cuts contained in it will be felt for a long time to come. As the Legislature was passing budget bills, it was also passing sweeping tax changes. In the end, spending was cut by $1.5 billion. Business taxes were reduced by $1.6 billion and taxes on individuals were increased by $1.4 billion when fully implemented in FY 13. September 2011
FY 2012 Budget: Quick Draw Budget Misses Mark
Fact Sheet: Infant Mortality in Michigan
The MiDashboard tracks a number of key measures and is an accountability strategy initiated by the governor. The infant mortality rate is one of the measures used to reflect overall economic health in the state. July 2011
Executive Budget Cuts Will Hurt Families
The League’s analysis of Governor Snyder’s first proposed budget and his tax proposals finds that Michigan’s most vulnerable families will be hurt. April 2011
Good for Business: Rolling out the Welcome Mat in Michigan
In the wake of Arizona’s anti-immigration
law, Michigan is one of many states where similar legislation has been introduced. Heated discussions about immigration reform often center on the cost to the public and the services provided to unauthorized immigrants. What is often left out of those discussions is the fact that immigrants contribute to the economy in many ways. February 2011
Executive Summary
Report
Press release
Benefit of the Michigan EITC for various income levels (2010 income table)
Legislative Bulletin: Year-End Legislation
This Bulletin contains the final legislation that was passed into law during the 2009-2010 legislative session. Jan. 2011
Michigan’s economy continues to cause pain: Communities of color take a harder hit
A decade into the 21st century, Michigan’s longbruised economy continues to generate high unemployment and shove more families into poverty. December 2010
Fact sheet: Michigan immigration
Nearly 16 percent of all Michigan businesses started between 1996 and 2007 were started by an immigrant. This and other facts shed light on the contribution by immigrants to Michigan’s economy in light of legislation recently introduced to create an Arizona-style immigration law in Michigan.
Among other contributions: In Detroit, 9 percent of the population is foreign-born, but contributes 11 percent to the economy.
The Budget is Balanced; the Crisis Remains
With three days to spare before the new fiscal year began on October 1, the Legislature completed its work on the 2011 budget. It is a budget that is propped up heavily with federal funds and relies on other one-time fixes.
First Budget to Cross the Finish Line
The bright spot in Michigan’s budget process was the timely passage of the school aid budget (P.A. 110 of 2010) on July 1, the beginning of the fiscal year for schools. read more>>
FY 2011 Executive Budget: Plan Fails to Restore FY10 Cuts, Chops More from Vital Programs. read more>>
League Joins Sandbox Party
Concerned that a key component of Michigan’s economic turnaround may be lost amid election-year politics, the Michigan League for Human Services joined other children’s advocates in launching Sandbox Party for Michigan’s Youngest Learners.
The nonpartisan, nonpolitical party represents the interests of Michigan’s youngest residents, from birth to age 5. A growing body of research identifies this age group as vital to developing competent citizens and workers.
Michigan children and families
How they fare in the FY10 budget Dramatic budget cuts were made in fiscal year 2010 in all five areas tracked by the Kids Count project. They are economic security, child health, adolescence, child abuse and neglect and education. This two-page fact sheet boils down budget changes in the current year that affect children and families. read more>>
States in Need
Congress Should Extend Temporary Increase in Medicaid Funding Families USA reports that Michigan would receive $700 million in Medicaid funding if Congress approves a six-month extension of the enhanced Medicaid match rate. That money would generate $1.4 billion in business activity in Michigan. read more>> Read Families USA press release>>
Budget Challenges Call for a Balanced Approach
The January Revenue Estimating Conference confirmed what was expected: Michigan faces a substantial budget gap for the fiscal year 2011 budget. read more>>
Legislative Bulletin — January 2010
Legislative bills and their status through December 2009 read more>>
Billions in Federal Recovery Funds Rescue Medicaid Through Increased Federal Medicaid Participation Rates Read more>>
Facts Matter
Facts Matter is a series of briefs highlighting Michigan’s budget and tax system.
- The Budget Deficit: It’s Not Just the Economy [PDF]
- Sales Tax on Services: Modernizing the Revenue Structure [PDF]
- Income Tax: It’s Time for the Flat Tax to Go [PDF]
- Senior Tax Preferences: Can Michigan Afford Such Generosity? [PDF]
- Beer Tax: Held Harmless for Forty Years [PDF]
- Estate Taxes: Michigan Stands to Gain Revenue [PDF]
- Tax Expenditures: Silently Draining the State Budget [PDF]
- Prison Spending: Corrections Takes Big Bite of Budget [PDF]
Testimony before the House Tax Policy Committee June 10, 2009 [PDF] [Word] [Powerpoint Presentation]
