Wonk-Life Balance Michigan League for Public Policy

Michigan's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax credit for workers and families with low incomes, and it helps them meet basic spending needs like groceries, transportation, child care and home maintenance. In 2012, the credit was cut back,  and the League and our partners have been advocating for it to be boosted every since. And NOW IS OUR CHANCE! There's bipartisan support for increasing the EITC to 30% of the federal credit. To make sure we understood just how much the EITC means to working Michiganders and their communities, we invited Bethany Broom-Dombrowski, a United Way VITA site coordinator, to talk to us about how the families she serves—most of them in rural areas—benefit. Bethany herself received the EITC when her daughter was younger, so she knows first-hand how important the credit is. 

Learn more about the EITC here.

Take action and ask your lawmakers to support a boost here. 

Learn more about the United Way VITA Program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) by calling 2-1-1 or contacting your local United Way.

This special edition of Wonk-Life Balance takes a look at what communities in Michigan need right now as we continue to endure a health crisis and recover from an economic one. Our panel discussion features three strong advocates for kids, families and workers in Michigan, as well as a moderator who's had a long career in social justice. Join them to learn more about how we can strengthen Michigan with an equitable recovery . Our panelists lift up the importance of not only acknowledging the folks who are impacted by the economy, but actively asking them what they need, then listening and responding. 


More about the panelists:
Meredith Kennedy, Think Babies Michigan Executive Committee Member, parent, small business owner and tribal citizen

Madiha Tariq, Deputy Director, ACCESS Community Health and Research Center

Kim Trent, Deputy Director, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO)

Moderator: Sheilah Clay, Michigan League for Public Policy Board of Directors

This special episode of Wonk-Life Balance features the keynote address from our recent public policy forum. In her address, Janelle Jones, Chief Economist at the United States Department of Labor explores the importance of transformational economic policy at this crucial time. Listen in to hear what she and her team are working on.

This episode of Wonk-Life Balance is time-sensitive. We're talking about making the right investments in Michigan so we can have an equitable recovery, and it's all hinging on the 'Build Back Better' plan that's being hashed out in Congress right now. That means we need to take action. Joining us to talk about what Michigan's communities need is Chong-Anna Canfora of Michigan Community Action, and sharing a look at what's happening in Washington, D.C., is Kathleen Romig of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Together, they help us understand the connection between our real-life experiences and negotiations happening on the U.S. Capitol floor this week. 

What can YOU do? ACT NOW. Contact your member of Congress and urge them to prioritize kids and families and Build Back Better. Here's a link to take action: https://bit.ly/CongressFundOurFuture

Parents, kids and community members have a lot to teach policymakers when it comes to strengthening our schools. Join us for a conversation about how Michigan's education system can be transformed through new ways of funding and new ways of thinking. This episode features Kids Count in Michigan Project Director Kelsey Perdue, Kyle Lim, a passionate advocate for community-based solutions and Tomarra Richardson, Parent Liaison for First Steps Kent.