LANSING – State Representative Robert Jones (D-Kalamazoo) on Tuesday voted to pass the Michigan Future Plan to secure investment in local police and fire protection, the Michigan Promise Scholarship, and health care for kids and seniors – programs that are critical to protecting Michigan's future and turning our economy around.
"The Michigan Promise Scholarship is one of the most important tools we have in our state," Jones said. "It not only opens the door to college for more students – it also creates the highly skilled workforce we need to attract new and growing businesses to Michigan. Protecting programs that give our young students access to an affordable college education is an important step in strengthening our economy and getting Michigan on the right track."
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
- 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.
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 special tax exemptions for corporations and maintaining the personal income tax exemptions at current year levels.
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 treatments 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. 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.
"No business will want to come to a state that doesn't provide health care for its residents, educate its students or keep its neighborhoods safe," Jones said. "This plan will protect these important priorities, support our middle-class residents and help attract emerging industries and job providers to our state. All of these pieces will play an important role in building a brighter future in Kalamazoo and all of Michigan."