The Legislature unveiled and passed a final budget in the midst of a marathon overnight session this week. MCC staff provide a first glance at both the good news and bad news on state funding for nonpublic schools as well as programs to help the poor and vulnerable. Also this week, a judge blocked enforcement of several laws that limit abortion and protect the health and safety of women. Read more in this week’s Lansing Update.
Within the disappointing ruling issued by the U.S. Supreme Court that upheld widespread abortion pill access, the justices unanimously preserved religious conscience rights in the healthcare field. Read about that, plus policy updates impacting foster children and lower-income individuals, in this week’s Lansing Update.
As lawmakers set their sights on finishing the state budget for next year, here’s a look at some critical funding pieces of interest to Catholics, from help for the poor to funding for nonpublic schools. Read about that, as well as the Church’s great feast day today, in this week’s Lansing Update.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
