Michigan League for Public Policy
The federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides unprecedented cash resources to families and significant investments in key areas like housing, child care, education, and health coverage.
It also provides significant resources to help states, localities, tribes, and territories meet COVID-19-related challenges.
With those funds, Michigan has a chance to right our fiscal ship, undoing bad policy decisions of the past and paving the way for a brighter future for all Michiganders.
After decades of disinvestment, critical programs and services in Michigan have been underfunded, making it even harder for kids, families, and workers to thrive. By prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations over investments in our state’s residents, the state Legislature weakened Michigan’s foundation so that when, COVID-19 hit, the state was already on shaky ground.
“It’s a huge package that will really help people get back on their feet,” said Gilda Jacobs, CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy, which advocates for racial equity and economic security.
“This totally parallels our agenda that we’ve had for years,” she said. “I was doing a happy dance.”
The stimulus, known as the American Rescue Plan, includes $1,400 per-person stimulus checks. While those are gaining significant attention, those who advocate for families say a longer-term impact could be the plan’s increases in child tax credits.
Currently planned for one year, boosters hope the benefit would become permanent. The tax credit increases to $3,600 from $2,000 for each child under 6 and to $3,000 from $2,000 for children 6 to 17.
Michigan League for Public Policy
On Tuesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unveiled her Michigan COVID Recovery Plan to help tackle the pandemic and its related impact on Michigan workers, businesses, and our economy. That was the latest in a string of some long-awaited good news and hope on the COVID-19 front as our state and our country fight through this health crisis.
The COVID-19 vaccine continues to be distributed and administered to people across the state. President-elect Joe Biden has announced his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 American Rescue Plan to fund vaccinations, provide immediate relief to families, and support struggling communities.
And, in late December 2020, Congress and the Michigan Legislature passed respective, bipartisan COVID relief packages to help support kids, workers, and businesses during these tough times. Signed into law by Whitmer, the state stimulus package included several grant programs for workers and businesses that are getting underway this month.
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