Pending bills in both the House and Senate would make Michigan driver’s licenses and state identification cards available to applicants who do not have proof of U.S. citizenship but can prove their identity and Michigan residency. Without a driver’s license, more than 100,000 Michiganders who lack federal documentation cannot legally drive to buy groceries, drop their kids off at school, or get to work.
MCC is responding with profound disappointment and offense taken to a video the Governor appeared in that appears to mock the posture and gestures of Catholics receiving the Holy Eucharist, and is calling for a return to a level of public respect, civility, and appreciation for those who have found peace and fulfillment in life by worshiping God and serving their neighbor.
MCC said the state budget, which was signed into law today, is a moral statement and 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,’ MCC believes that taking care of the poor and vulnerable is and should remain among the top public spending priorities, and was encouraged to see that critical programs that provide for pregnant mothers in need, families experiencing homelessness, and foster children were preserved or increased.
Upon the Governor signing the latest education budget into law, MCC issued a statement indicating that 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. Lawmakers in recent years have identified school security upgrades and ensuring all students have access to free meals at school as public priorities, but the new budget fell short of making adequate investment into these areas for all students.
State lawmakers failed to consider the totality of concerns present with paid surrogacy contracts, concerns that include protecting vulnerable women from exploitation and human trafficking, along with how the practice minimizes the dignity of motherhood and childbirth into a sale and delivery mechanism for the gain of others, Michigan Catholic Conference said in response to the signing of bills allowing the practice in Michigan.
Allowing individuals to enter compensated contracts for the creation of children puts vulnerable surrogate mothers at greater risk of exploitation, MCC said in opposition to legislation that passed a state Senate committee, which would allow for compensated surrogacy contracts in the state and also make Michigan an outlier among the international community, which largely views surrogacy as a human rights violation.
MCC commends the state Senate for providing bipartisan support to legislation that would stop payday lenders in Michigan from charging exorbitant interest and fees on short-term loans that ensnare low-income customers in a cycle of debt.
With the Governor delivering her annual State of State address this week and her next budget recommendation due to be released soon, MCC issued a press release urging her and lawmakers to pursue policies primarily aimed at helping families support themselves.
Portions of the Growing Michigan Together Council final report issued today are welcome and deserve legislative support, however, policies that emphasize family life and encourage married couples to have and raise children in Michigan are unfortunately missing from the group’s recommendations to help grow the state’s population, MCC stated after the council’s report was released to the public.
To grow Michigan’s stagnant population, policymakers should view proposed solutions through the lens of supporting family life by making it easier to have and raise children in this state, according to a letter from MCC to the Governor’s council tasked with recommending policy goals to grow Michigan’s population.
