LANSING – State Representative Lee Gonzales (D-Flint Twp.) on Tuesday voted to pass 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.
"We must do all we can to prepare our students for the workplace and create the talented workforce needed to attract 21st century job providers," Gonzales said. "It's also imperative that we ensure our communities have the police and fire protection they need to keep residents safe and that our children and seniors have access to the health care treatments they deserve. The Michigan Future Fund will protect these priorities and help position our state for future growth."
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.