LANSING – State Representative Douglas Geiss (D-Taylor) on Tuesday voted for the Michigan Future Plan that secures 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.
"At a time when Michigan faces numerous economic challenges, it is critical that we support the programs that are essential to moving our state forward and keeping Michigan healthy, educated and safe," Geiss said. "Promise Scholarships serve as gateways of opportunity for our hard-working students to get a good education and compete for 21st century jobs. In order to build the top-notch workforce that will attract job providers to Michigan, we must ensure that our children have access to affordable higher education."
Under the plan, which passed the House on Tuesday night and now heads to the Senate, all money raised into the Michigan Future Fund would be dedicated exclusively for police and fire protection, Promise Scholarships, health care and 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.
The Michigan Future Plan:
- Restores local police and fire protection;
- Safeguards Promise Scholarships;
- Provides health care for kids and seniors; and
- Protects Michigan libraries.
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.