Lansing Update: What MCC Said in Response to the New State Budget
Posted July 26, 2024
MCC Provides Commentary as Governor Signs FY 2025 Budgets Into Law
Gov. Whitmer signed the newest state budget into law this week, finalizing the months-long process to decide on state spending for the fiscal year that will begin October 1.
The Governor signed the education spending budget Tuesday, and the budget covering the rest of the state departments the following day, which provided Michigan Catholic Conference the opportunity to comment on both budgets in separate statements issued this week.
For the education budget contained within House Bill 5507, MCC said state lawmakers could have provided more support to ensure all Michigan students are safe and secure at school and have access to healthy meals, regardless of the schools they attend.
MCC also commented on the continuation of or increased investments into programs that support the poorest and most vulnerable members of this state, including pregnant mothers in need, families experiencing homelessness, and foster children. Senate Bill 747 made up the rest of the state department spending portion of the budget.
Nonpublic Schools See Safety Cut in New Budget, No Funds to Extend Meals to More Kids
While lawmakers in recent years have identified school security upgrades and ensuring all students have access to free meals at school as public priorities, the budget signed into law fell short of making adequate investment into these areas for all students.
As previously reported in Lansing Update, lawmakers slashed school safety funding by 91 percent for both public and nonpublic schools. Nonpublic schools and public schools had previously been allocated $18 million and $300 million, respectively, for school safety grants. But in the upcoming budget, those amounts have been reduced to $1.5 million and $25 million, respectively.
Further, a program to feed all students in schools that serve breakfast and lunch, regardless of family income, was not extended to nonpublic schools that would otherwise qualify. This marks the second consecutive year that nonpublic schools have been left out of the ‘universal’ meal program, a decision that overlooks 4,200 students statewide, including those in higher poverty areas like Flint and Saginaw.
MCC in its statement this week also highlighted the efforts of Catholic Advocacy Network members like you who sent more than 7,000 messages to state lawmakers asking them to preserve safety funding for nonpublic schools.
To read the full statement from MCC on the education budget, click or tap here.
Mothers in Need Benefit From Increased Investment in Upcoming Budget
Several programs intended to benefit mothers in need will see more funding in the new state budget.
MCC reiterated this week that the state budget is a moral statement, one that indicates the priorities state officials are willing to support with public tax dollars. Inspired by Christ’s teaching to care for ‘the least of these,’ the organization believes that taking care of the poor and vulnerable is and should remain among the top public spending priorities.
With that in mind, MCC highlighted in its release that more parents in need will benefit from free diapers for their children due to an expansion of the state’s diaper assistance program to $6.4 million. The spending provides diapers to maternity homes, local county offices, and other nonprofit agencies that distribute diapers free of charge.
Low-income families will also be able to access newborn car seats through $500,000 in new funding.
Lawmakers also increased funding to the Prenatal and Infant Support Program that provides direct cash assistance to pregnant mothers to help ensure their economic stability and to improve infant and maternal health and wellbeing.
The program, formerly known as Rx Kids, was originally established to provide all pregnant mothers in the city of Flint with $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 each month throughout a baby’s first year. A state appropriation increase from $16.5 million to $20 million will expand support to more mothers in Flint and may extend the program to additional cities across Michigan in future years.
Other poor and vulnerable populations, like the homeless, foster children, and victims of human trafficking, will continue to receive support in the budget, as well.
To read the full statement from MCC on the rest of the state budget, click or tap here.
MCC Releases Election Year Guidelines for Parishes, Catholic Organizations
MCC recently published its 2024 Election Year Guidelines for Catholic Parishes and Organizations document to help parish staff, or staff members for any Catholic organization, understand what election-related activities are prohibited or permissible for Church entities classified as tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
The document is designed to assist Catholic organization staff members in addressing any questions or requests they receive related to parish or organizational involvement in political or candidate-related activities.
The guidelines emphasize that Catholic organizations must only distribute information approved or published by the local diocesan bishop, MCC or the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Other topics that are covered include the placement of political signs on Catholic property, events involving political candidates and elected officials, participation in voting registration drives and guidelines for when a Catholic organization serves as a polling location.
While the guidelines are primarily geared toward parish leadership, it may also be helpful for the lay faithful to learn about what parishes can and cannot do during an election season—and why.
To access the digital version of the election year guidelines, please click or tap here.
Update on Legislative and Elections Schedule
Lawmakers are still on summer recess this week. Session days are scheduled for both the House and Senate next week, but no action is expected.
The August primary in Michigan is Tuesday, August 6. Information about how and where to vote can always be found at the Michigan Voter Information Center by clicking or tapping here.
MCC will be publishing its elections Focus to assist the faithful with voting in the general election closer to the end of August or early September, and ahead of when absentee ballots are issued for the general election, which is typically in late September.
Stay tuned to Lansing Update for more information and resources to come related to preparing for the election with a Catholic mindset.