GRAND RAPIDS – State Representative Roy Schmidt (D-Grand Rapids) today joined police, firefighters, city leaders and supporters at Grand Rapids City Hall to tout the Michigan Future Plan, which secures programs that are critical to protecting Michigan's future and turning our economy around. The plan, which passed the House this week, focuses on investing in three priority areas – local police and fire protection, the Michigan Promise Scholarship, and health care for kids and seniors.
"I knew we would have to make tough cuts to balance the state budget, but one thing I wasn't willing to do was eliminate programs that will help turn Michigan around," Schmidt said. "That includes protecting our communities right here in West Michigan by keeping police and firefighters on the street, helping more of our students attend college and ensuring that kids and seniors have access to the life-saving health care they deserve. This plan will preserve the programs that will play a vital role in building a brighter future for our state."
All money raised into the Michigan Future Fund would be dedicated exclusively for police and fire protection, Promise Scholarships, health care and libraries.
The Michigan Future Plan:
- Restores local police and fire protection;
- Safeguards Promise Scholarships;
- Provides health care for kids and seniors; and
- Protects Michigan libraries.
State money that local governments use to pay for local police and fire protection has already been slashed by more than $500 million this decade, causing Michigan communities to lose more than 4,000 firefighters and police officers since 2001.
"Grand Rapids is a great city and we need to make sure it stays that way," said Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell. "Cutting services like police and fire protection would put our community at risk and drive away the businesses we need to maintain a thriving downtown and neighborhood business districts. That's something we simply can't allow to happen. I applaud Representative Schmidt and the House for preserving these important programs."
Nearly 100,000 Michigan students who rely on the $4,000 Promise Scholarship to attend community college, a university or vocational training have already been promised part of that tuition money for the current school year.
Funding for the Michigan Future Plan comes from reducing tax exemptions for corporations and maintaining the personal income tax exemptions at current year levels. Lawmakers also are looking at enforcing the tobacco tax more fairly and expanding late night liquor licenses.
In addition to the Michigan Future Fund, the House passed the Health Care Rebate to help ensure that 1.7 million children, seniors, and residents with disabilities have access to life-saving medical treatment by bringing reimbursement rates for Medicaid more in line with Medicare.
Under the plan, Michigan will receive a return of nearly $3 in federal matching funds for every dollar contributed – bringing in $716 million to ensure kids and seniors have access to x-rays, vaccines and life-saving treatments. An estimated 80 percent of doctors will benefit from the plan, and increasing the number of doctors willing to treat patients in need will increase access to health care for nearly two million residents while also reducing the financial burden on the state.
"I don't want to see a Michigan that can't protect its communities, educate its kids or provide health care to its residents," Schmidt said. "We must keep the doors of an affordable education open so our students are prepared to become the workers of tomorrow and protect the jobs of those who protect us. This plan will support and strengthen our middle class while we continue working to turn Michigan's economy around."