Left of Lansing Left of Lansing

Here's this week's LoL Friday Short for this April 19, 2024

There's hope new legislation could be introduced in Lansing called The Working Parents Tax Credit. If passed, it could help around 250,000 Michigan kids in just one year. 

Supporters say this tax credit would incentivize work, and reward working families, and recent polling shows widespread support for this proposal.

However, as we saw with the federal child tax credit in 2021, not only did the program cut child poverty in half, but unemployment dropped to record lows. 

That's why the Rx Kids Flint program is something to watch when it comes to investing in our kids' futures. 

It makes more sense investing in people rather than just handing-out millions upon millions of dollars in corporate subsidies, or slashing taxes for the rich, don't you think?

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leftoflansing@gmail.com

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Here's Episode 82 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast!

It's another week. 

That means it's another episode of the Republican Crime Syndicate!

Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel announced several charges against former Michigan Republican state House Speaker Lee Chatfield, and his wife, Stephanie, for operating a criminal enterprise! Just like Chatfield's hero, Dear Leader Trump, he will soon find himself in a courtroom. And Chatfield also finds himself following in the footsteps of fellow Republican state House Speaker, Rick Johnson! 

This is the Law & Order party?

But while some policymakers work on finding ways to enrich themselves, there are many Michiganders working hard to enrich the lives of others. 

One good example is the Rx Kids program in Flint, which provides a no-strings attached cash allowances to mothers and their babies. Other countries have provided similar programs, and experienced success with fewer premature births, improved cognitive development for infants, and more. The program is a mix of public and private funds, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer is providing more money as part of her 2025 budget proposal. It's about transforming the social contract to expand opportunities for hard-working Michiganders. 

Dr. H. Luke Shaefer is the co-director of the Rx Kids program. Dr. Shaefer is a professor of social justice, social policy and public policy at the University of Michigan, and he gives us insight into Rx Kids, and what it ultimately hopes to achieve. 

And the "Last Call" applauds the Rx Kids program in Flint, and how we hope the program expands to other areas of the state of Michigan. It's a pro-family initiative, and it's a common sense initiative!

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

leftoflansing@gmail.com

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Here's this week's LoL "Friday Short" for this April 12, 2024.

The Michigan Board of Education passed a resolution this week asking the Democratic majority in the state legislature to pass laws requiring more transparency and accountability when it comes to charter schools. 

For years, charter schools haven't had to play by the same rules as public schools when it comes to accountability, even though charter schools receive taxpayer money!

This resolution is a start of a movement that should've started long ago, and let's hope Michigan Democrats indeed pass legislation holding these institutions to the same standards as we hold our public schools. 

But school choicers don't want that kind of accountability because it'll hurt their ultimate goal: defunding public schools! 

Read the articles below for more info.

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

leftoflansing@gmail.com

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NOTES: 

"State Board of Education resolution seeks greater transparency of Michigan’s charter schools." By Jon King of Michigan Advance.

"Michigan: State Board Passes Resolution To Put Charter Schools Under Same Rules As Public Schools." Diane Ravitch's blog.

"Michigan spends $1B on charter schools but fails to hold them accountable." By Jennifer Dixon of The Detroit Free Press

Here's Episode 81 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast!

On this week's episode, Pat talks about "Florida" Mike Rogers' audacity to run for Michigan's open Senate seat this Fall even though he hasn't lived in this state for years (because he wanted to make lobbying cash), and he's registered to vote in both Florida and Michigan! How can a guy, who didn't even know about the abortion rights proposal, which passed in 2022, portray himself as a true Michigander? Pat would like to know.

Pat also congratulates friend of the podcast, Democratic State Rep. Betsy Coffia, on her hard work passing a law which allows Michiganders ages 16-to-17-and-a-half years old to pre-register to vote. That law is in effect, and now, those Michiganders can pre-register by going online using a driver's license or state ID, or they can pre-register in-person by visiting their local clerk's office. Again, Democrats work to engage more people to take part in our democracy, and to make voting more accessible. 

Then, Pat talks with Bridge Michigan business editor Paula Gardner on how corporate subsidies aren't working as promised here in the state. Ms. Gardner's fantastic investigative work into the state's corporate subsidy programs, and how these programs are leading to low-paying jobs, is a must-read. It's proving what many of us worry about when it comes to these "incentives." They aren't giving us the best results. 

In the "Last Call," Pat once again says the Arizona State Supreme Court's decision to rule a near-complete abortion ban law from 1864 as constitutional shows how abortion will remain a top issue in this Fall's election. Many "Very Serious People" in Lansing, and in D.C., keep telling us that abortion is so 2022, but you know better!

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

leftoflansing@gmail.com

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Here's Episode 80 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast!

This week, Pat takes the Michigan Republicans to task, and the handful of right-wing Michigan sheriffs, who stood on stage with Donald Trump this week in Grand Rapids. Trump showed-up in our state to exploit the death of Ruby Garcia, who was shot and killed by someone she knew. The alleged killer is an illegal immigrant, and that's all Trump wanted to focus on. No, he didn't address domestic violence, which is exactly what this is! No, he didn't address gun violence. And even though Trump said he talked with the victim's family, the family said he didn't talk to any family member! Plus, Trump didn't want to remind everyone how he torpedoed the Republican immigration bill in D.C.! It was about stoking anger and fear to his base while offering NO solutions. 

And shame on all of those sheriffs for being part of this political rally, filled with racism and lies. 

In the "Last Call," Pat takes a Lansing columnist to task for declaring that abortion rights won't be a key issue in the 2024 election.

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

leftoflansing@gmail.com

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Time for the LoL "Friday Short" on this March 29, 2024

Michigan Republican State Rep. Matt Maddock baselessly claimed on "X" that buses at Detroit Metro Airport were filled with "illegal invaders!" The only problem with such a claim? The people in those buses were members of the Gonzaga Men's Basketball Team, which is playing in the Sweet 16 of the men's college tournament in Detroit this weekend. 

Maddock refuses to admit his lie, and has doubled and tripled-down on the lie. 

He and his wife attended a rally at the January 6th insurrection, and Meshawn Maddock is one of the 16 indicted Republican officials who tried to overturn the election for Donald Trump in 2020.

And these are the people Rick Snyder and his friends in the donor class want back in power in the state House next year!

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

leftoflansing@gmail.com

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