Lansing Update: July 2, 2015

  1. Senate Passes Road Funding Plan Without EITC Elimination — Thank You for Your Impact!

Senate Passes Road Funding Plan Without EITC Elimination — Thank You for Your Impact!

Last evening, the Michigan Senate passed a package of bills to provide state funding for road and transportation infrastructure repairs. While the Senate Government Operations Committee passed a measure eliminating the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) as part of the package earlier this week, that legislation was not brought up for a vote along with the other bills that passed the Senate yesterday. Michigan Catholic Conference staff will continue to monitor the issue, but we are very encouraged by the Senate’s action to preserve the Earned Income Tax Credit. MCC released this statement after yesterday’s Senate session:

“Michigan’s low-income workers are among the winners today thanks to the Senate’s action to preserve the state Earned Income Tax Credit. Every day those who earn on the low end of the pay scale struggle through various circumstances to bring home a paycheck and provide for their families. Michigan Catholic Conference is appreciative of the Senate for recognizing low-income workers and preserving this tax credit that helps to afford basic necessities and gives workers a hand up. The poverty level in Michigan, especially among children, calls for continued legislative dialogue so that good public policy can be passed to help alleviate this continued source of struggle for the state’s poor and vulnerable families.”

Nearly 1,000 messages in support of preserving the state EITC poured into Senate offices these past few weeks. Thank you for taking the time to send these messages, as your efforts made a large difference in yesterday’s discussion. Michigan Catholic Conference is also deeply grateful to Senate leadership and members of both parties who supported protecting the state EITC. While many senators had a hand in its preservation, Senate Majority Floor Leader Mike Kowall (R-White Lake), Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint), Senator Geoff Hansen (R-Hart), and Senator Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City) went the distance to help preserve the credit.

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