News Release: MCC Applauds Legislation to Benefit Michigan’s Low-Income Workers

(Lansing, Mich.) — Michigan Catholic Conference is applauding Governor Rick Snyder and the Michigan Legislature after the Governor signed into law yesterday Senate Bill 847. Contingent upon passage of a May statewide ballot question focused on road funding, the legislation would fully restore the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in 2016 to 20 percent of the federal credit. The EITC, which the Legislature created in 2006 after years of advocacy from Michigan Catholic Conference and others, was reduced to six percent in 2011 when the state tax code was remodeled.

“Governor Snyder and legislative leaders deserve strong acclaim for building into the roads solution a full restoration of the state Earned Income Tax Credit,” said Tom Hickson, Michigan Catholic Conference Vice President for Public Policy. “Research has proven that no policy does more to lift low-income workers out of poverty than the EITC. Michigan Catholic Conference could not be more pleased for the legislature and governor to address the economic concerns of the working poor in our state.”

Full restoration of the Michigan EITC was an element of the legislative compromise reached in late 2014 to raise $1.2 billion to fix the state’s roads by way of a May statewide ballot question. With the Governor’s signature, restoration of the EITC will only take effect if voters approve the road funding ballot question. Senate Bill 847 was sponsored by former Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing).

Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state.

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