Legislation Cutting Taxes for Michigan Families & Businesses

Legislation Cutting Taxes for Michigan Families & Businesses

by | Apr 26, 2023 | Regional News

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

April 26, 2023

Contact: [email protected]

Gov. Whitmer Signs Legislation Cutting Taxes for Michigan Families & Businesses, Protects Children and Seniors, Keeps Communities Safe 

New delivery and installation tax cut is the fourth tax cut announced by Governor Whitmer this year.

LANSING, Mich – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation to cut taxes for Michiganders by exempting delivery and installation costs from sales tax. She also signed bills to protect Michiganders by updating Michigan’s sentencing guidelines for providing false statements on firearm sales and establish the volunteer employee criminal history system. Governor Whitmer also signed legislation to modify membership on the Michigan Strategic Fund Board. 

“I’m proud to work with legislators to lower costs for Michiganders and keep our communities safe. This legislation will help families keep more of their hard-earned money and ensure peace of mind when families entrust caregivers to look after their loved ones,” said Governor Whitmer. “These bills will also keep firearms from those who should not have them and amend the organization of the Michigan Strategic Fund to give Michigan the best opportunity to continue winning economic development projects and growing our economy. These bills are examples of the progress we can make when we all work together, in a bipartisan fashion, to get things done for Michigan. Let’s keep up the good work.” 

Governor Whitmer signed House Bills 4039, 4045, 4143, 4219 and 4253. 

“I would like to thank Governor Whitmer for signing my legislation, House Bill 4253, into law” said State Rep. Kevin Coleman (D – Westland). “This was a bipartisan bill, and I was happy to work with Rep. Outman to provide further tax relief for small businesses and Michigan consumers. Many businesses are unfamiliar with the difference between use and sales tax, and do not pay sales tax or uses tax on these transactions. Delivery and installation charges should be treated consistently, and regardless of the timing of the charge or how they are invoiced.” 

“Our retailers provide countless jobs across the state and stimulate our economy – the state is working to foster a better environment for small businesses to succeed in Michigan’s economy,” said State Rep. Pat Outman (R- Six Lakes). This plan gained bipartisan support because it’s a commonsense solution to a problem we all agree needed to be fixed.” 

House Bills 4039 and 4253   lower costs for Michiganders by exempting delivery and installation charges from the sales and use taxes. 

House Bill 4045 protects vulnerable Michiganders by establishing the volunteer employee criminal history system, which allows Michigan State Police to continue conducting background checks for individuals who are employed as caregivers of children, elderly, and other vulnerable populations. It brings Michigan into compliance with the Child Protection Improvement Act of 2017.  

“As the country is in the midst of passionate discourse around gun legislation, I am so proud to see Michigan embracing common sense legislation,” said State Rep. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids). My bill HB 4143, which changes language to require background checks for all firearms is a key step in addressing the crisis of gun violence in our communities.” 

House Bill 4143  will protect Michigan communities by updating sentencing guidelines to comport with new universal background checks. 

“Adding members appointed by the Republican caucuses to Michigan Strategic Fund board will bring a greater level of accountability, transparency, and bipartisan oversight to Michigan’s economic development plans into the future,” said Minority Leader Matt Hall (R-Richland Township). 

House Bill 4219 assists Michigan in winning economic development projects by codifying changes under Executive Reorganization Order 2019-03 to require the directors of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and Michigan Department Of Transportation or their designees from within their respective departments to serve on the board, require members to be residents of the state, establish four-year term limits, require the board president to serve as chairperson, and allow board members to elect a vice-chair from their members. 
Whitmer Leads Letter from Governors to Congressional Leadership

Whitmer Leads Letter from Governors to Congressional Leadership

by | Apr 26, 2023 | Regional News

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 26, 2023

Contact: [email protected]

 

Gov. Whitmer Leads Letter from Governors to Congressional Leadership Against Budget Cuts to Health Care, Child Care, Job Training, Food Assistance

 

LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer led a group of governors to send a letter to congressional leadership opposing any cuts to health care, child care, job training, and food programs as federal budget negotiations continue. Recently, Republicans in the House of Representatives released a proposal that would gut critical programs states and local governments rely on to feed families, protect access to quality health care, empower workers with the skills they need, ensure families have a roof over their heads, and help parents go back to work with affordable child care options.

 

“As national leaders debate the federal budget, we governors are speaking with one voice—do not cut health care, child care, food assistance, or housing that so many of the families we serve rely on,” said Governor Whitmer. “Millions of Michiganders rely on these programs to feed their kids, keep a roof over their heads, go back to work, learn new skills, or get better when they’re hurt or sick. These vital programs are nonnegotiable. Any cuts to them would devastate working families across America and jack up their costs.”

 

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

 

Dear Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Speaker McCarthy, and Leader Jeffries:

 

We write today to express our firm opposition to any efforts that would cut funding for programs that hundreds of millions of Americans pay into and rely on for their health care, retirement benefits, and more. While Congressional leaders have clarified that Medicare and Social Security will not face any cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, and discretionary spending – literal lifelines for millions of Americans nationwide – are on the chopping block. As Governors, we speak with one voice: any federal funding cuts or fundamental changes to the spirit and intent of these programs will have dangerous repercussions for Americans across the nation, regardless of what political party is in power at the state level.

 

Several high-profile members, including those holding influential committee leadership positions, have endorsed efforts to target Medicaid, which provides health care to nearly 85 million children, adults, people with disabilities, and seniors. One of these proposals includes weakening or rescinding the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid Expansion, reversing a decade’s worth of benefits to states that expanded coverage for their residents. Any effort to target this expansion could impact the 18 million Americans who have gained coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Changes to Medicaid financing – in the form of a block grant, per capita cap, or limiting how states can finance their share of Medicaid—would have the same damaging impact: states would be forced to scale back crucial benefits and services due to financial uncertainty. Of course, it is worth noting that many of these misguided efforts are happening as states are navigating the unwinding of the Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Provision to ensure that those who gained coverage over the last three years are in a position to maintain health coverage. Collectively, these proposals would shift significant costs to states and undoubtedly lessen or eliminate coverage for millions of our residents.

 

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity remains an acute concern for many of our residents. Nationwide, more than 41 million Americans receive SNAP benefits, including approximately 15 million children. In March, nearly two dozen House Republicans supported legislation to expand SNAP’s existing work requirements and eliminate the federal government’s ability to waive work requirements for states in areas of high unemployment. According to estimates from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, more than 10 million people, or one-in-four participants, would be at risk of losing food assistance under this proposal, including millions of children. These threats to SNAP come just months after a minimum of a $95 per month reduction in SNAP benefits following the conclusion of pandemic-related benefits in February. At almost the same time, another filed bill would impose work requirements for individuals seeking to remain eligible for both Medicaid and SNAP benefits. 

 

Last week, House Republicans released the Limit, Save, Grow Act, a plan that would return federal government spending to Fiscal Year 2022 levels and cause irreparable damage to every state. Every day, millions of Americans rely on critical programs funded by the federal budget and implemented by state and local governments for health care, child care, nutrition, housing, and so much more. According to estimates from federal departments, these proposed cuts could include:

 

  • Approximately 125,000 fewer job seekers would receive services and training from the workforce development system, hampering efforts to create good-paying jobs; 

 

  • More than 100,000 child care slots would be eliminated, prohibiting countless parents from attending school, going to work, or forcing them to pay out of pocket for child care;

 

  • The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) would have to reduce participation, denying 250,000 new moms and young children food and nutrition services, 

 

  • The Housing Choice Voucher program would be forced to eliminate funding for 350,000 families, putting people—including kids—out on the street.

 

As Governors, we are uniquely positioned to best understand the needs of our residents, and waivers represent a needed tool to meet those needs. We are united in our opposition to expanded work and work reporting requirements in any crucial safety net program, such as SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid. We urge you to work in a bipartisan manner to find a solution that preserves funding for crucial programs that benefit all of our constituents.
MDHHS pilots community health worker program

MDHHS pilots community health worker program

by | Apr 24, 2023 | Regional News

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Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 24, 2023

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, Sutfinl1@michigan.gov  

MDHHS pilots community health worker program
at COVID-19 neighborhood testing sites

 

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announces a pilot program for community health worker (CHW) services at select COVID-19 Neighborhood Testing sites to address community health needs. CHWs will offer on-demand referral services to essential health and well-being resources including behavioral health and social services. Visitors to participating sites can meet with an on-site CHW to connect with community resources that include food access, housing supports, utilities assistance and health care enrollment.  

 

“We must take every opportunity we have to bring access to health care to residents where and when they need it,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “Increasing entry points to care leads to improving social determinants of health and the overall well-being of our communities. We continue to look for innovative ways to keep Michigan residents healthy.” 

 

CHWs are trained public health professionals and trusted members of the community whose goal is to address social determinants of health and serve as links between residents and the health and social resources needed to improve well-being. At the testing sites, CHWs refer visitors to behavioral and health care providers, assist with health insurance coverage, point to Michigan’s 211 program referral helpline and more. CHWs also offer education on healthy lifestyles and habits, and provide education on managing medications or chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. 

 

“Based on lessons learned and best practices established over the last few years, it is important to continue our work to address racial disparities across social determinants of health,” said the Hon. Thomas Stallworth, director of the Racial Disparities Task Force and the Governor’s senior advisor for Legislative and External Affairs. “This includes expanding community hubs, enhancing services and public health programs, and providing referrals to resources where its most convenient for our more vulnerable community members.” 

 

The CHW services are currently funded through a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant focused on addressing health disparities among high-risk and underserved populations. MDHHS will continue to evaluate ways to support community health needs across the state.  

 

CHWs will be located at these pilot sites: 

 

Wayne County  

Wayne County Community College District, Northwest Campus  

8200 West Outer Dr., Detroit 

  • Tuesday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • Wednesday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
  • Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

 

Bethel Baptist Church East   

5715 Holcomb St., Ste. 33, Detroit 

  • Monday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
  • Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

 

Hartford Memorial Baptist Church  

14000 W. Seven Mile Rd., Detroit  

  • Monday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Genesee County  

Bethel United Methodist Church  

B1309 N Ballenger Hwy., Flint 

  • Thursday 1-7 p.m.

Macedonia Baptist Church  

G5443 N Saginaw St., Flint 

  • Monday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

 

Word of Life Baptist Church   

460 W. Atherton Rd., Flint 

  • Tuesday noon to 6 p.m.

Muskegon County 

Christ Temple Church  

412 E. Sherman Blvd., Muskegon 

  • Monday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
  • Tuesday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Free consultation services up to 45 minutes are available. Walk-ins are taken as space and time allows, and no ID or insurance is required.  

 

The first evaluation of the CHW pilot will occur at the end of May. To learn more about CHWs, visit the Michigan Community Health Workers Alliance website. 
Whitmer Statement on Strong Monthly Jobs Report 

Whitmer Statement on Strong Monthly Jobs Report 

by | Apr 20, 2023 | Regional News

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

April 20, 2023

Contact: [email protected]

 

Gov. Whitmer Statement on Strong Monthly Jobs Report 

Unemployment decreases to 4.1%, labor force increases by 10,000 last month, 75,000 jobs added YoY 

 

LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued the following statement after the release of the latest economic numbers showing the unemployment rate fell to 4.1% in March and the labor force increased by 10,000. Michigan’s economy added 75,000 jobs year over year, the labor force participation rate increased, and the 12-month average Black unemployment rate was cut nearly in half since last March.

 

“Michigan’s economic momentum continues to build with lower unemployment and 75,000 Michigan jobs added year over year.

 

“In the first 100 days of this year, with a productive majority in Lansing, we have taken action to lower costs, create good-paying American manufacturing jobs, and spur economic development in every region.

 

“Together we rolled back the retirement tax on our seniors, which will save half a million households an average of $1,000 a year. We quintupled the Working Families Tax Credit, putting a combined $3,150 refund in the pockets of 700,000 working families. We won a $3.5 billion project from Ford creating 2,500 manufacturing jobs. We have more manufacturing projects in the pipeline that we need to rally behind so we can bring more jobs home and help more people get back to work. We have also made record investments to build more housing and fund community revitalization projects across Michigan, powering small business growth and lowering housing costs.

 

“Let’s build on our momentum in the months ahead and enact another balanced budget that delivers on the kitchen-table issues and lower costs for families.”
Keeping Healthcare Coverage During Medicaid Renewal

Keeping Healthcare Coverage During Medicaid Renewal

by | Apr 19, 2023 | Regional News

Oakland County Helping Residents Keep Healthcare Coverage During Medicaid Renewal Process

Post Date:04/19/2023 12:04 PM

• Michigan is conducting its first Medicaid Renewal in three years which affects about 90,000 Oakland County residents.
• Oakland County and its community partners are helping residents to navigate the renewal process and, if necessary, find an affordable health plan.
• For more information on the Medicaid renewal, go to www.michigan.gov/MIBridges.

Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County and its community partners are urging the county’s 89,500 residents who are enrolled in Medicaid to participate in Michigan’s Medicaid renewal process to avoid any potential gaps in healthcare coverage. During a news conference today at Trinity Health Oakland hospital, County Executive Dave Coulter joined healthcare leaders to announce the availability of navigators and other resources to help residents with the renewal process.

Medicaid renewal determines whether those enrolled are still eligible for coverage. This is Michigan’s first Medicaid renewal in three years because of COVID-19 federal emergency public health orders expiring in May. At least 15,000 Oakland County residents enrolled in Medicaid during that period. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/MIBridges.

“We want to make sure that no Oakland County resident experiences a gap in their health care coverage as a result of these eligibility reviews,” Coulter said. “So, we’re working with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to get the word out and providing links to community organizations that can help Oakland County residents who are receiving Medicaid benefits navigate the renewal process.”

Residents who find they are no longer eligible for Medicaid should take the next step to enroll in a healthcare plan at www.healthcare.gov. Residents may go to the six Oakland County Michigan Works! offices in Novi, Pontiac, Oak Park, Southfield, Troy, and Waterford to get assistance with the Medicaid renewal. Also, community organizations like Jewish Family Services, Centro Multicultural La Familia, and ACCESS will assist residents with Medicaid renewal and, if necessary, help them find an affordable health plan.

“Through our work in public health, we recognize the importance of helping the clients we serve to keep their health coverage,” said Deputy Oakland County Executive Madiha Tariq, who oversees the Departments of Health and Human Services and Public Services “Our teams are working to help connect people to resources who can guide them through the Medicaid renewal process. If a resident is determined by MDHHS to no longer be eligible for Medicaid benefits, there are resources to help them go to the healthcare marketplace to purchase health insurance.”

Michigan will send monthly renewal notices three months prior to a beneficiaries’ renewal date beginning with June renewal dates. The state sent June renewal awareness letters in March. To maintain coverage, residents enrolled in Medicaid must fill out a renewal form which the state will send them by mail. Individuals who do not turn in their renewal forms by the due date risk losing their Medicaid coverage.

Those enrolled in Medicaid need to update their address, phone number, and email address in MI Bridges (www.michigan.gov/MIBridges) as soon as possible to receive their renewal packet. They also need to note any changes to their household or income. People who have Medicaid need to check their mail, email, or text to make sure they do not miss their renewal paperwork.

Oakland County has dozens of organizations which serve residents enrolled in Medicaid. Trinity Health Oakland’s Emergency Department sees many patients who have Medicaid. Hospital President Shannon Striebich, who also serves as vice president of operations for all Trinity Health hospitals in Michigan, wants to prevent their patients from finding out they no longer have Medicaid when they visit the emergency room.

“As a longtime healthcare leader in Oakland County and across Michigan, Trinity Health is very concerned that patients will unknowingly lose access to care once their Medicaid eligibility is reviewed,” said Striebich. “Medicaid has been a blessing for many vulnerable patients throughout the state who experience financial struggles. Along with other services, Medicaid coverage provides access to primary care visits, including important routine checkups and preventative care.”

To prepare for the renewal, Medicaid enrollees should gather the following paperwork:
• Proof of age (birth certificate or driver’s license)
• Proof of all sources of income
• Proof of assets and other resources (copies of bank statements or other financial items if told to on your Medicaid renewal form)
• Proof of citizenship or immigration status
• Proof of disability (those who think they qualify because of a disability may need to include documentation in their Medicaid renewal form)
• Proof of other insurance (a copy of your other insurance ID card(s), or red, white, and blue Medicare card)
Residents who do not have access to the Internet may call the MDHHS Beneficiary Help Line at 800-642-3195.

23-136 Medicaid Handout_Ltr Sz.pdf

Nessel Joins DOJ Lawsuit Against Google 

Nessel Joins DOJ Lawsuit Against Google 

by | Apr 18, 2023 | Regional News

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 18, 2023

Media Contact:
AG Press

AG Nessel Joins DOJ Lawsuit Against Google for Anticompetitive Practices in Digital Advertising

LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined 16 other Attorneys General in a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Justice Department against Google for monopolizing multiple digital advertising technology products in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. It alleges that Google monopolizes the “ad tech stack,” or key digital advertising technologies, that website publishers depend on to sell ads and that advertisers rely on to buy ads and reach potential customers. Website publishers use ad tech tools to generate advertising revenue that supports the creation and maintenance of a vibrant open web.

The complaint alleges that Google, over the past 15 years, engaged in a course of anticompetitive and exclusionary conduct. In doing so, the lawsuit maintains, Google has cemented its dominance in the tools relied on by website publishers and online advertisers, as well as the digital advertising exchange that runs ad auctions.

Google’s anticompetitive conduct has included:

  • Acquiring Competitors: Engaging in a pattern of acquisitions to obtain control over key digital advertising tools used by website publishers to sell advertising space;
  • Forcing Adoption of Google’s Tools: Locking in website publishers to its newly-acquired tools by restricting its unique, must-have advertiser demand to its ad exchange, and in turn, conditioning effective real-time access to its ad exchange on the use of its publisher ad server;
  • Distorting Auction Competition: Limiting real-time bidding on publisher inventory to its ad exchange, and impeding rival ad exchanges’ ability to compete on the same terms as Google’s ad exchange; and
  • Auction Manipulation: Manipulating auction mechanics across several of its products to insulate Google from competition, deprive rivals of scale, and halt the rise of rival technologies.

With the lawsuit, Justice Department and state Attorneys General hope to restore competition in these important markets and obtain monetary relief on behalf of the American public.

“The power that Google wields in the digital advertising space has had the effect of either pushing smaller, less ubiquitous companies out of the market or making them beholden to Google ads to market their clients’ products,” Nessel said. “This is monopoly behavior and I’m glad to join the DOJ’s lawsuit to loosen Google’s grip on digital marketing and make it more equitable for small businesses.”

“We look forward to litigating this important case alongside our state law enforcement partners to end Google’s long-running monopoly in digital advertising technology markets,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Today we welcome the States of Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Washington, and West Virginia who join our existing coalition of eight co-plaintiff states, to deliver the benefits of competition to website publishers, digital advertisers, and the American public.”

Google now controls the digital tool that nearly every major website publisher uses to sell ads on their websites (publisher ad server); it controls the dominant advertiser tool that helps millions of large and small advertisers buy ad inventory (advertiser ad network); and it controls the largest advertising exchange (ad exchange), a technology that runs real-time auctions to match buyers and sellers of online advertising.

In 2020, the Justice Department filed a civil antitrust suit against Google for monopolizing search and search advertising, which are different markets from the digital advertising technology markets at issue in the current lawsuit. The Google search litigation is scheduled for trial in September 2023.