Media coverage
Detroit Free Press: Michigan’s surplus can help fill unmet needs
Posted May 20, 2013
Take some of the surplus, and plow it back into human capital and investment — stuff that won’t show black on the financial balance sheet but will help put the state back on track.
I think the best bang for the buck might be a reinvestment in the earned income tax credit, which Snyder and the GOP Legislature gutted two years ago to help pay for the corporate tax restructuring.
>> Read Stephen Henderson’s column.
The Oakland Press: Group pushes to restore Earned Income Tax Credit
Posted May 15, 2013
With Michigan expecting a surplus of money heading into the final weeks of negotiating a new state budget, a coalition of groups say some of the money should go to restoring an income tax credit for the working poor.
The Observer and Eccentric: Restore Earned Income Tax Credit (Sen. Glenn Anderson op-ed)
Posted March 15, 2013
In my senate district alone, it is estimated that 24,686 households (or 20.2 percent of filers) claimed the Michigan EITC in 2011 and it brought almost $11 million dollars into our communities. With the reduction of the state EITC this year, an estimated 9,000 children will fall back into poverty statewide, and our local economy will lose $7.66 million.
Michigan Radio: What tax changes mean for Michigan’s working class
Posted March 13, 2013
This meant that many poor, working-class families saw an increase in their taxes in addition to tax increases they felt from other legislative changes. The state’s advocates for the poor have called upon the legislature to restore the Earned Income Tax Credit to Michigan in order to ease the financial stress felt by poor families.
Mlive: Coalition wants Michigan Legislature to boost Earned Income Tax Credit
Posted March 6, 2013
The reduction in the EITC is costing Lansing’s Angela Rynicki, who works multiple jobs including housekeeping and bartending, hundreds of dollars this year. She said tax refund season typically is a time to catch up and get ahead by paying off bills but the ability to do that is damaged this year.
Detroit News: Advocates rally to restore tax credit for low-income families
Posted March 6, 2013
“Even (President) Ronald Reagan said this was one of the best anti-poverty tools of all time,” Johnson said, adding lawmakers should “put away our partisan hats and think about who we’re trying to help.”
Associated Press: Michigan Democrats: restore state’s Earned Income Tax Credit
Posted March 6, 2013
Lansing taxi driver and single father Terry Beasley uses the federal and state earned-income tax credit to supplement the $12,000 he brings home every year, pay off bills and buy new clothes for his son. “It’s going to mean I’m going to have a whole lot less money and be a lot poorer,” he said.
Interlochen Radio: Democrats push to bump up state low-income tax credit
Posted March 6, 2013
Some conservative lawmakers have already expressed interest in boosting the tax credit. They say it promotes employment in low-income communities.
WKZO: Democrats aim to restore Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit
Posted March 6, 2013
State Representative Sean McCann says that he and other House Democrats are trying to get Michigan’s Earned Income Tax Credit restored.
Holland Sentinel editorial: Restore tax credit for working poor
Posted March 6, 2013
Michigan can afford to treat its low-income working families better, and it can do so by restoring the earned income tax credit to its former level.
Oakland Press guest column: Snyder’s devastating tax increases must be repealed
Posted Feb. 27, 2013
In my Senate District in Oakland County, it is estimated that 16,152 households (14.1 percent of filers) claimed the Michigan EITC in 2011 and it brought more than $6.4 million dollars into our communities. With the reduction of the state EITC this year, our local economy will lose almost $4.5 million and an estimated 9,000 children will fall back into poverty statewide.
A small investment that makes a big difference: Coalition calls for increased EITC funding
Posted Feb. 26, 2013
Citing its proven effectiveness in helping working families and the communities they live in, a broad coalition of social justice advocates, religious groups and organizations working to combat poverty today called on the Michigan Legislature to reinstate funding for the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which was slashed from 20 percent of the federal credit to 6 percent in 2011.
Reports project substantial tax increases for working Michiganders under the reduced EITC
Posted May 11, 2012
The Michigan League for Human Services released reports today showing the impact of the reduced Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit for each state legislative district. The reports detail the major tax increase imposed on families by the new law — a tax increase that may well damage businesses those families frequent.
Michigan League for Human Services: Spirit of anti-poverty tool preserved in tax plan
Posted May 12, 2011
The Michigan League for Human Services supports a plan that will protect Michigan’s low-income working families by preserving a portion of the state Earned Income Tax Credit.
Detroit Free Press calls on Michigan Senate to reject Gov. Snyder’s tax plan
Posted May 5, 2011
The Detroit Free Press published an editorial calling on the Michigan Senate to reject the tax plan reached by Gov. Rick Snyder and Republican legislative leaders, which places a greater burden on poor working families while providing a huge tax break for businesses.
House votes for dramatic increase in taxes on low-income families, more child poverty, and reduced education opportunities
Posted April 28, 2011
Today’s vote by the House of Representatives to dramatically reduce a crucial tax credit for working poor families in Michigan would result in thousands more children in poverty and contradicts Gov. Rick Snyder’s stated goals of reducing child poverty and increasing young children’s readiness for school.
$25 per child EITC good step but not enough to keep kids out of poverty
Posted April 20, 2011
The deal announced by Lt. Gov. Brian Calley today to preserve a small portion of the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit is a good step toward keeping kids out of poverty. But even with the $25 per child credit and enhancements in the Homestead Property Tax Credit, working poor families will still be far behind.
State Earned Income Tax Credits help working families escape poverty
Posted April 20, 2011
A new report released by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities outlines how important state EITCs are to working families.
>> Read more.
Coalition supporting Earned Income Tax Credit welcomes Michigan Municipal League to its ranks
Posted April 18, 2011
Adding to a growing tide of support, the Michigan Municipal League (MML) is the latest organization to stand up for the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The MML Board of Trustees voted to oppose legislation that would eliminate the EITC, which returns a yearly average of $432 to low-income working families, most with children.
Michigan Catholic Conference calls for “great attention” to needs of the poor
Posted April 13, 2011
The Michigan Catholic Conference has sent a leader to Gov. Snyder and legislative leaders, calling on them to carry out their responsibilities “with greater attention to the needs of the poor, the unemployed and other vulnerable persons.”
The research of the staff of the Michigan Catholic Conference reports that the EITC does more to lift working families and their children out of poverty than any other policy. According to the Michigan Dashboard, there are only 12 states in the country with more children living in poverty than Michigan. This is an alarming statistic that has rightly been brought to the state’s attention, and is among the reasons why the Michigan Catholic Conference has made preserving the state EITC its number one advocacy priority this legislative session.
>> Read more
Latest budget deal a worse deal for low-income working families
Posted April 13, 2011
Once again, Gov. Snyder and fellow Republican leaders are misleading the people of Michigan, continuing their plans to cut business taxes while balancing the budget on the backs of low-income and middle class families.
>> Read more.
Join We Are the People for a rally at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 13
Posted April 11, 2011
We Are the People, a a diverse coalition of students, seniors, workers, families and organizations fighting to protect Michigan’s middle class, will hold a rally at the Capitol on April 13 to show their support for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Come out and make your voice heard!
>> Read more.
Saginaw County Board of Commissioners vote to protect EITC
Posted March 17, 2011
The Saginaw County Board of Commissioners voted 10-3 against repealing Michigan’s Earned Income Tax Credit, lending their support in the fight to protect working families.
>> Read more.
“The working poor don’t have the clout in Lansing that other groups do.”
Posted March 11, 2011
An NPR article explores how eliminating the Earned Income Tax Credit takes a tax break away from the working poor.
Study finds that tax proposals impact low-income families far more than high-income families
Posted March 9, 2011
A new analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy finds that Gov. Synder’s tax proposals would impact lower-income families 10 times more than high-income families.
Speak out in support of low-income families, kids and seniors
Posted March 9, 2011
Join the Michigan League for Human Services and other organizations for a rally at the State Capitol building in Lansing. The rally will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15
Michigan voters speak out (again): Don’t raise taxes on working poor families
Posted March 3, 2011
Another survey of Michigan voters has found a strong majority oppose raising taxes on Michigan’s working low-income families to eliminate taxes on 100,000 Michigan businesses.
76% of Michigan voters oppose ending Michigan tax credit for working poor
Posted Feb. 23, 2011
More than three out of four Michigan voters oppose the elimination of the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit for low-wage working families, according to a new poll released today.
Snyder’s Proposed Elimination of Michigan EITC Ignores Key Item on Dashboard
Posted Feb. 17, 2011
Gov. Snyder’s proposal to eliminate Michigan’s tax credit for the working poor, the Earned Income Tax Credit, will push 14,000 Michigan children into poverty and lead to poor families in Michigan having an even higher tax burden than wealthy families.
Human services, children’s, religious groups joined to support Michigan tax credit for low-income working families
Posted Feb. 16, 2011
Groups came together today to alert lawmakers that eliminating the Michigan EITC is a big mistake that will lead to higher child poverty while hurting many businesses across the state, particularly in poor counties in Northern Michigan.
>>Read more.
Saving Our EITC is a bipartisan issue
Posted Feb. 13, 2011
In another development showing that saving Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit is a bipartisan issue, the Branch County Board of Commissioners, controlled by Republicans, has unanimously voted for a resolution recognizing the impact of the EITC.
>>Read more.
