Lansing Update publishes on Fridays when the Michigan Legislature is in session and chronicles legislative activity of interest to Michigan Catholic Conference. Join the Catholic Advocacy Network to receive Lansing Update in your inbox.
Lansing Update / Posted May 31, 2024
New legislation supported by MCC would stop the state’s practice of seizing foster kids’ benefits and instead ensure those funds are protected for foster kids’ use when they exit care. Read about this issue, as well as an update on where the legislative schedule stands, in this week’s Lansing Update.
Lansing Update / Posted May 17, 2024
Efforts to amend the state budget in the Senate to include nonpublic schools in safety funding and other initiatives fell short this week. However, the budget process still isn’t over. Read about where things stand, as well updates on legislation to promote awareness of safe gun storage requirements and shed light on payday lending practices, in this week’s Lansing Update.
Lansing Update / Posted May 3, 2024
After thousands of grassroots messages sent to lawmakers, the House amended its proposed budget to restore two critical funding sources for nonpublic schools. Plus, the Church this week remembers the dignity of work and workers by celebrating the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1. Read more in this week’s Lansing Update.
Lansing Update / Posted April 26, 2024
Not a single penny for school safety or mental health service funding was proposed for nonpublic schools in the House’s first draft of next year’s school spending plan. While nonpublic schools didn’t receive any of MCC’s requested funding, it’s not over yet. Also this week, MCC supported important legislation that builds on the implementation of safe storage requirements for keeping guns at home and away from kids. Read more in this week’s Lansing Update.
Lansing Update / Posted April 19, 2024
After more than 4,000 messages sent to lawmakers from grassroots advocates, lawmakers proposed a school spending budget this week that restored some funding cuts to nonpublic schools that were proposed by the Governor—but not everything. Plus, MCC testified in support of capping predatory payday lending rates, and is calling on Catholics to urge their representatives to do the same. Read more in this week’s Lansing Update.
Lansing Update / Posted April 12, 2024
As nonpublic schools face $18 million in funding cuts for school safety improvements and mental health services in next year’s proposed state budget, grassroots advocates have been called upon to contact their lawmakers to change course. Read more in this week’s Lansing Update.
Lansing Update / Posted April 5, 2024
MCC applauded the recent signing of one bill into law to help foster kids but criticized the signing of a different piece of legislation that will impact vulnerable women. Learn more about MCC’s stances on both in this week’s Lansing Update.
Lansing Update / Posted March 22, 2024
Leaders of nonpublic schools from across Michigan were in Lansing this week to meet with dozens of lawmakers to advocate for state support of nonpublic schools, including restoration of previously funded items for school safety and robotics programs. Also, the Senate unfortunately voted to send the MCC-opposed surrogacy legislation to the Governor. Read more in this week’s Lansing Update.
Lansing Update / Posted March 15, 2024
This week, MCC spoke in support of the Legislature advancing limits on payday lending, but against lawmakers voting to support compensated surrogacy contracts. At the heart of both issues, MCC’s advocacy aims are the same: To protect the poor and vulnerable of our state. Read more in this week’s Lansing Update.
Lansing Update / Posted March 8, 2024
Just months after Pope Francis issued a call for a global ban on surrogacy, Michigan lawmakers resumed consideration of legalizing commercialized, compensated surrogacy contracts in this state, which would make Michigan an international outlier. Learn why MCC testified against this legislation and why it’s harmful for the vulnerable women who become surrogates in this week’s Lansing Update.
