We Listened.

Michigans Middle Class Plan

www.RealStateofOurState.com

We Listened.
Michigans Middle Class Plan I want us all to work together as citizens. I dont care if you are a D, an R or an I. Im a C, Im a citizen. Jennifer, Sterling Heights
The Michigan House Democrats have traveled across the state, from Hancock to Monroe and Detroit to Grand Rapids, to hear how policies in Lansing are affecting middle-class families. We heard from seniors in Hancock who talked about how tax increases, such as the Pension Tax and reduction in the Homestead Property Tax Credit, have made it harder to make ends meet. We heard teachers in Grand Rapids talk about how hard it is to give kids the time and attention they need in over-crowded classrooms. We heard in Western Wayne County how middle-class families couldnt afford new taxes to fix our roads. And we heard in Washtenaw County that women are facing additional burdens getting access to the health care they need. After hearing from hundreds of people from across the state, one thing is clear: The priorities of Lansings special interests arent working for Michigans middle-class families. The House Democrats are committed to a plan that works for Michigans middle-class families, not the big corporations and CEOs. We are ready to get Lansing working on your side. Enclosed is Michigans Middle Class Plan. We will: Repeal taxes on our seniors and middle-class families. Fund K-12 education so our kids can compete for 21st century jobs. Eliminate barriers to health care for women. Fix our roads and bridges.

www.RealStateofOurState.com

Repeal Taxes on our Seniors and Middle-Class Families

Across our state, time and time again, we listened to the impact of new taxes on middle-class families. Over the last two years, Gov. Rick Snyder and the House Republicans eliminated or reduced the credits that help families bottom line and imposed a tax on senior pensions and retirement income.

We heard the struggle families are facing as they discover that they will not be receiving a refund, or what they have been receiving has been slashed in half.
The loss of tax breaks and reduction of refunds hits pocketbooks and kitchen tables across Michigan. Middle-class families deserve relief, not more hardships. The House Democrats will introduce bills that restore the Earned Income Tax Credit to 11 percent in the first year, fully restore the homestead property credit, repeal the pension and retirement tax and restore the child deduction.

Cant we at least just give some relief to those people who were retired when this came about? And that were not saddled with an expense we didnt plan on? Unlike wages, our pensions dont go up. Herbert, Grand Blanc

Tax Relief Repeal the tax on senior retirement income. R  equire employers to inform employees about the Earned Income Tax Credit. Restore the Homestead Property Tax Credit. Restore the child deduction. R  estore the Earned Income Tax Credit to 11 percent in the first year.

Fund Education so our Kids Can Compete for 21st Century Jobs
The cuts to education are real. We heard it from parents, job creators and students. Two years of failing to invest in education hurts us every day. Overcrowded classrooms, crumbling buildings and inadequate supplies are preventing our kids from getting the education they need to compete for the jobs of tomorrow.

Our kids are getting left behind. The House Democrats are committed to investing in their future and making education a priority.
We will introduce bills that not only restore education funding cut by Gov. Snyder and the House Republicans, but protect the School Aid Fund in the future and ensure that the resources intended for education stay where they belong in the classroom, giving our kids the resources they need.

What the governor has come up with is to force failure in the public schools. Rita, Ann Arbor

Education C  onstitutional amendment to make the School Aid Fund only used for K-12 education. R  aise the current per pupil allowance by $320 from $6,996 to $7,316. R  equire class sizes not to exceed an average of 30 kids per instructor.

Eliminate Barriers to Health Care for Women

From Hancock to Detroit, Canton to Grand Rapids, and from Saginaw to Sterling Heights, women everywhere know what Lansing politicians have been doing in the past two years to limit access to healthcare: restricting insurance coverage, closing of health centers and denying access to preventive care.

The House Democrats heard it from mothers, daughters, sisters and aunts from one corner of the state to the other.
We will introduce bills that open up access for women and families to receive the preventive and critical health care services they need. Instead of limiting access to health care, the House Democrats will expand the number of providers that are allowed to dispense certain forms of birth control, prevent discrimination in employment because of reproductive decisions and remove burdensome and redundant regulations to clinics and family planning services.

You see in Lansing with these laws that Republicans keep on pushing to restrict womens rights progressive causes that young people are for they see Michigan and think, Michigan or Mississippi. Michael, Sterling Heights

Health Care Eliminate unnecessary barriers to health centers. Protect patient safety and privacy. R  equire insurance companies to cover family planning services. E  xpand the types of providers that are allowed to dispense certain forms of birth control. Support efforts to reduce and deter teen pregnancy.

Fix our Roads and Bridges

It isnt a secret that Michigans infrastructure is crumbling. We listened to families from across the state talk about the cost to their pocketbooks when they get another car repair bill. But we didnt just hear from families, we heard from small businesses and how they need a reliable system of roads and bridges to expand and create jobs.

While everyone agrees we need to fix our roads, the House Democrats dont think middle-class families should get the bill.
We will introduce bills that ensure existing transportation funds are used for road construction and take advantage of historically low interest rates by refinancing existing infrastructure bonds so our tax dollars are used to repair roads and bridges, not pay the big banks and CEOs on Wall Street.

We have nothing left to invest in our streets, and as long as there is some formula to return that money back to the local governments in a fair way, thats going to be key. Glenn, Hancock

Transportation  Implement a fine for habitually overweight trucks. Refinance existing infrastructure bonds. R  equire existing transportation funds to be used for road construction and repair.

We Listened.
Michigans Middle Class Plan

www.RealStateofOurState.com