FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 23, 2020

Contact:

Tiffany Brown, [email protected]

Kurt Weiss, 517-243-3139, Weissk1@michigan.gov

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: 2021 budget remains focused on education and healthy families

Governor set to sign budget in coming days

LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will soon sign her second budget into law amidst a global pandemic that created one of the most challenging and unique budget cycles in Michigan history. It’s a budget that will deliver on many of her signature priorities, including the Michigan Reconnect program for a tuition-free pathway for adults, funding for the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies program to ensure women have the care they need for a healthy pregnancy, and expanding access to childcare for families.

“When we started the budget process in early February, nobody had an idea of how challenging the coming months would be, no knowledge of the devasting impacts that COVID-19 would have, including the impact to our state budget,” said Gov. Whitmer. “But Michigan is strong, and by working collaboratively with our partners in the Legislature we now have a budget I will soon be signing, a budget that funds shared priorities that will move Michigan forward.”

The budget will protect schools, colleges, universities, and local governments from any state funding reductions below their original 2020 funding levels. The budget will also include new education investments focused on providing students, teachers, and adults across Michigan with needed resources, including:

• $161 million in flexible per pupil spending to help districts address the increased costs of educating students in the midst of a pandemic.
• $30 million for the Michigan Reconnect program to provide a tuition-free pathway for adults looking to upskill and earn a postsecondary certificate or associate degree. Implementing Reconnect will help close the skills gap and move the state closer to reaching 60% postsecondary educational attainment by 2030.
• $5.6 million for mental health counselors to assist children in schools across Michigan with mental health needs.
• $5 million in incentives to attract and retain first-year teachers in districts across Michigan.
• An increase of $3 million to continue to fund literacy coaches and expand resources to improve training for other educators in best practices of literacy learning.
• $2 million in additional supports to assist vulnerable students who are learning remotely, including special education students, students who are chronically absent, and children in need of childcare while their parents are working.
• $2 million for Detroit Public TV to foster early childhood initiatives to enhance learning and early education.
• Implementation of previously announced teacher hazard payments of up to $500 per teacher, along with the addition of payments of up to $250 for school support staff.
• $1 million for school meal debt forgiveness.

“This has been a budget cycle unlike any other, but in the end we have been able to work collaboratively and put together a budget that reflects many of the Governor’s key priorities and values,” said State Budget Director Chris Kolb. “I am pleased that we will soon have a budget in place for the new fiscal year which begins October 1, but I still have concerns about projected revenues loses for Fiscal Year 2022 and we still need Congress to provide states with new federal funding.”

When it comes to budget priorities for the health of families across Michigan, the budget will include:

• $12.6 million for the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies program to ensure women are given the care they need to have a healthy pregnancy and to expand support for interventions that are proven to improve outcomes.
• $26 million to expand access to childcare for families by increasing the income limit from 130% to 150% of the federal poverty level, expanding childcare services to nearly 6,000 children.
• $135 million to extend the $2.00/hour wage increase for direct care workers assisting the elderly and other vulnerable individuals during this especially difficult time.
• $20 million in additional support for nursing homes for COVID-19-related cost increases.
• $20 million to support the state’s psychiatric hospitals so that Michiganders in need of mental health services have improved access and care.
• $2 million for the Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund to protect Michigan families from lead in their homes.
• $10 million to implement policies to keep more children with families rather than entering congregate care.
• $2.5 million to provide first responders with the mental health services they need, including treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

“The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the challenges and disparities that have prevented far too many Michiganders from realizing their fullest potential,” said Lt. Governor Gilchrist. “The budget that we’ve put forth is an opportunity to take a proactive, deliberate approach toward investing in the health, education, and economic well-being of those who need it the most. This budget sets a foundation to make expand access to opportunity for all of the people who call this state home.”

The 2021 budget will include critical funding for programs within the Department of Labor and Economic Development and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, including $100 million for business attraction efforts.  A total of $28.7 million will be provided for the Going Pro program to support job training grants to businesses to support training for current and new employees in high-demand, skilled trades industries. In addition, new funding of $3 million is provided for a statewide pre-apprenticeship program with the goal of developing qualified candidates for building trades apprenticeships in the construction industry. Funding for the popular Pure Michigan campaign will be set at $15 million.

The budget will also provide funding for critical initiatives directed at the environment, including $5 million that will draw down significantly more in federal funding for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program to reduce runoff of contaminants into Lake Erie and other watersheds. The budget will also add $1 million to Michigan Saves to help Michigan families make energy efficiency improvements to their homes.

A total of $4.2 million will be provided to begin implementing the pre-trial incarceration task force recommendation for crisis intervention and de-escalation training through the Michigan Coalition on Law Enforcement Standards, helping ensure law enforcement officers have the training and education they need to intervene successfully. The budget will include $7 million to increase the number of troopers within the Michigan State Police.

The budget will also include $14.3 million in broadband funding to help expand Internet access across the state which is more important than ever to Michiganders relying on telework, telehealth, and virtual learning.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

September 22, 2020

Contact: [email protected]   

Governor Whitmer Honors 200,000+ American Lives Lost During Pandemic, Reiterates Calls on President Trump to Develop a National Strategy

As of today, the coronavirus has infected 117,910 and killed 6,680 people in Michigan.    

LANSING, Mich. – After the United States passed 200,000 COVID-19 related deaths today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement to honor and mourn those who have lost their lives and their families:

“As we remember and honor all of those we have lost to this virus, we must not forget that each life was a person who had a story: plans, dreams, and more life to live. We owe it to our families, our neighbors, all of the brave frontline workers, and to our fellow Michiganders to continue taking this virus seriously and prevent more devastation in our communities. My heart is with the families of those whose lives were tragically cut short by COVID-19.

“Over the past six months, Michigan has worked hard to slow the spread of COVID-19. And Michigan is not alone. During this time, the whole country has been grappling with this emergency. At this moment, all 50 states and the federal government are in some sort of declared emergency. We have made tremendous progress as a state and as a nation, but we must stay the course. As we continue to face to the biggest health emergency of our lifetime, we may never know the number of lives that have been saved, but we do know that in doing our part by wearing a mask, remaining six feet apart, and staying home and stay safe, we have saved many lives.

“As we honor each of the more than 200,000 American lives lost to this virus, I hope it serves as a reminder to each and every one of us to do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and help save lives. I know this loss weighs heavily, but Michiganders are tough. We will get through this together.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 22, 2020

Contact: [email protected]

VIDEO: Governor Whitmer Sits Down with Top Advisors to Discuss Michigan’s COVID-19 Response Over the Past Six Months

LANSING, Mich. — In a new video, Governor Whitmer sat down with Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive and MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health Dr. Joneigh Khaldun and her Chief Legal Counsel Mark Totten to discuss Michigan’s ongoing response to COVID-19 over the past six months. Both Totten and Dr. Khaldun have worked in tandem with the governor and many others to ensure Michigan’s swift response to the virus and to save lives. Since Michigan’s first case of COVID-19 in March, they have each worked around the clock to implement executive orders, directives and policies that protect the health and safety of Michigan families, frontline workers, educators, and small businesses.

“Michigan was hard hit by COVID-19 early in the pandemic, but because we took quick action and Michiganders did their part to slow the spread of the virus, we are in a much better position than many other states,” said Governor Whitmer. “No one wants to end this state of emergency more than I do, but we are not out of the woods yet. Michigan is not alone in this fight. At this moment, all 50 states and the federal government have some form of declared emergency. Progress is promising – we’re nearing a vaccine, with dozens being tested in humans already, including 9 in large-scale clinical trials. Michigan is making plans to distribute the vaccine, which could be as early as this fall. Michiganders are tough. We have gotten through these last six months together and we will work together and continue to show up and do the hard work we have to do to get out of this pandemic.”

“I know many Michiganders have done their part to protect themselves and others from COVID-19, and as a result Michigan is in a much better place than we were early on in the pandemic. But we cannot let our guard down yet,” said Chief Medical Executive and MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health Dr. Joneigh Khaldun. “We continue to learn more about this virus every day, and must all continue to do our part by wearing a mask, staying six feet apart, and washing our hands frequently. This virus spares no age group and can cause long term health consequences and death. Flu season is fast approaching and a spike in flu-related illnesses would be devastating to our health care system, economy, and overall COVID-19 response. As a parent and as a doctor I encourage all Michiganders to go and get vaccinated to protect themselves and their neighbors from the flu. I am proud to continue to work around the clock alongside Governor Whitmer, Mark Totten and the dedicated team at MDHHS to fight this virus.”

“When we first declared a state of emergency for Michigan it became clear that we would have to exercise extraordinary powers given to the governor by the legislature to protect the health and safety of millions of Michiganders from this once-in-a-lifetime, deadly threat,” said Chief Legal Counsel Mark Totten. “These orders, informed by the best science and data, have been the backbone of Michigan’s response to COVID-19 and have led to some of the lowest COVID-19 levels in the nation. Without these powers and the flexibility they give the governor to act, there is no question that thousands of more lives would have been lost.”

A study released by Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team showed that the aggressive actions Governor Whitmer took have significantly lowered the number of cases and deaths that would have occurred had the governor not acted.

Right now, Michigan is ranked as the number 12 recovery according to CNN’s “back-to-normal” index. The index measures each states economic activity as compared to its pre-pandemic level. Currently, Michigan’s economy is operating at 82% of where it was in March.

To view the governor’s executive orders click here. To follow all COVID-19 updates from the state of Michigan visit www.Michigan.gov/coronavirus.