State of Michigan Archives: on Families & Children
Abdul El-Sayed:
Invest in Detroit to keep millennials in Michigan
El-Sayed said millennials will have a large impact on this campaign, "Nobody has as large a stake in our future as students do," El-Sayed said. "They have been very involved in my campaign and its message that we have to take back our future."
In order to mobilize millennials, El-Sayed said more investments need to be made into economies like Detroit's in order to keep millennials in Michigan. Additionally, he mentioned sustaining the political activism seen by young voters.
Source: MI Daily Staff on 2018 Michigan Gubernatorial race
Mar 13, 2017
Alan Keyes:
Save kids’ souls-they don’t need free speech
Q: In free-speech terms, do people have the right under the First Amendment [to view anything on the Internet, or] should they be kept from that right on these computers? A: I don’t think it’s a free speech issue. It’s an issue of public decency.
Anyplace you let our children into ought to be subject to standards of public decency that make it clear that they are not going to be polluted with garbage. Don’t use the First Amendment as some excuse to destroy our children’s lives and souls.
It doesn’t have to be -- it’d be easy as pie to put a few computers off in a room you don’t let children in and let adults have access to them? You can solve the problems if you want to. The libraries right now are egregiously ignoring their
responsibility to our kids, trying to claim free speech rights. I’ve got to tell you something. My kids don’t have the right to free speech. And they don’t need to have it until they grow older.
Source: GOP Debate in Michigan
Jan 10, 2000
Andy Levin:
Expand Family Leave for both spouses at same employer
Married couples who work for the same employer may be restricted in the amount of time off they can take under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), but a new bipartisan bill seeks to expand the federal law. Levin introduced the Fair Access for
Individuals to Receive (FAIR) Leave Act in the House. As the FMLA stands, a married couple employed by the company can be required to share a combined amount of time for some FMLA-qualifying leave reasons. The bipartisan legislation would allow for
spouses working for the same employer to each take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period.Levin said, "It makes no sense to punish families because two parents are married and work for the same employer. The FAIR Leave Act is a
no-brainer, bipartisan fix that will make sure that families have appropriate time to recover from labor and delivery, bond with their newborn and celebrate a growing family."
Source: Michigan Advance on 2018 Congressional MI-9 election
Nov 14, 2019
Debbie Stabenow:
Schools must prohibit bullying due to sexual orientation
Senator Debbie Stabebow is a longtime supporter of LGBTQ equality. She supported marriage equality; the repeal of 'Don't Ask Don't Tell; the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act; and the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which would
require school districts to adopt codes of conduct prohibiting bullying and harassment, including on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and religion. Stabenow is also a co-sponsor of the
Equality Act, crucial federal legislation that would finally guarantee explicit, comprehensive protections for LGBTQ people under our nation's civil rights laws.HRC's State Director says, "In a state with 1.1. Million Equality Voters, where a
strong majority of citizens support marriage equality and fundamental civil rights, HRC is on the ground mobilizing our supporters in Michigan to reject the politics of hate and ensure that pro-equality champion Debbie Stabenow remains in office."
Source: HRC.org on 2018 Michigan Senate race
Aug 28, 2018
Gretchen Whitmer:
Extend postpartum care from 60 days to a full year
We will extend postpartum care from 60 days to one full year after giving birth, and move up a woman's first postpartum visit to within three weeks, with a comprehensive visit within 12 weeks. This will help new moms heal, and work through
postpartum depression and anxiety after giving birth. We'll let a woman choose birth control that works for her. A novel idea, I know--we're going to ask a woman what she wants, ensure she can get it in one visit, and provide coverage for it.
Source: 2020 Michigan State of the State address
Jan 29, 2020
Haley Stevens:
Expand Family Leave for both spouses at same employer
Married couples who work for the same employer may be restricted in the amount of time off they can take under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), but a new bipartisan bill seeks to expand the federal law. Stevens introduced the Fair Access for
Individuals to Receive (FAIR) Leave Act in the House. As the FMLA stands, a married couple employed by the company can be required to share a combined amount of time for some FMLA-qualifying leave reasons. The bipartisan legislation would allow for
Source: Michigan Advance on 2018 Congressional MI-11 election
Nov 14, 2019
John James:
Allow more flexible options for senior housing
Q: Your Medicare policy?A: Medicaid currently does not allow states and seniors to redirect nursing home dollars toward programs like stay-at-home care. The COVID crisis has shown that shared environments and shared surfaces can be harmful
for people with preexisting conditions and our seniors. Congress must pass reforms to allow seniors to have more flexible options when it comes to housing.
Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2020
Mike Parson:
Consolidate several programs into new Office of Childhood
To help strengthen Missouri's early childhood system, we are excited to propose the consolidation of several different programs and divisions across three state agencies into one new office--the Office of Childhood.
This new office will not only help streamline the operation of several state programs, but also allow us to place a bigger focus on early childhood development--a critical component to the future success of Missourians for generations to come.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Michigan legislature
Jan 27, 2021
Rick Snyder:
Healthy Kids Dental: coverage for 440,000 kids in need
One area we did that I am really proud of is Healthy Kids Dental. It's about giving kids in need better dental coverage. We now have over 440,000 people in Michigan in this program. But, I am proud to say in this current budget year we are adding another
90,000 and we should just continue until we get all the kids in Michigan covered in some fashion, because materially, it affects their life. But, thank you for adding those extra 90 thousand kids. It will make a difference in their lives.
Source: 2013 State of the State Speech to Michigan Legislature
Jan 16, 2013
Rick Snyder:
Adoption rate in Michigan is up 25 percentage points
We've done an outstanding investment in preschool education in the state of Michigan to make it so every Michigan child will have the opportunity to have a preschool education. And we're leading the nation in the investment in our young.
The adoption rate in the state of Michigan is up 25 percentage points, and we're now supporting young foster kids in higher education. We've gone from being the bottom to being a leader, and we should be proud of helping those in need.
Source: State of the State address at 2015 Michigan Inauguration
Jan 20, 2015
Tudor Dixon:
Would criminalize involving children in drag shows
[On child sexual abuse]: "As Governor, I will sign a bill that creates severe criminal penalties for adults who involve children in drag shows."
"This type of behavior is criminal child sexually abusive activity," she continued. "We will make Michigan the toughest state in the country on child sex abusers."
Source: Daily Wire on 2022 Michigan Gubernatorial race
Jun 3, 2022
Gretchen Whitmer:
No mandatory COVID vaccine for children
Whitmer signaled opposition to mandating coronavirus vaccines for children to attend school during Michigan's final gubernatorial debate before Election Day. Whitmer was asked about new guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
urging children to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. "I do not support requiring the COVID vaccine for children," said Whitmer, who proceeded to defend her record of battling the pandemic. "We made quick decisions to save lives and studies show we
saved 1000s. I am proud of that."Tudor Dixon, the GOP nominee for governor, has sought to make Whitmer's leadership throughout the pandemic a top issue in the contest. "I had a small business crushed [by coronavirus lockdowns].."
Earlier this
month, the CDC voted to add coronavirus inoculation to the Vaccines for Children Program. The inclusion does not make the shots mandatory for children but places it on a list of recommended vaccinations the CDC provides to physicians.
Source: Fox News Politics on 2022 Michigan Gubernatorial race
Oct 25, 2022
Tudor Dixon:
Parents outraged about schoolbook describing how to have sex
Dixon sought to go on offense over local debates around what books are allowed in school libraries, saying that "parents are outraged" over what she characterized as "books describing how to have sex.""If you have material in your school that is
something you can't read to a child at a bus stop because you would be arrested because it is pornographic, then it should not be in a classroom," Dixon said.
Whitmer responded that Dixon was trying to "wedge communities against each other."
She said, "It is dangerous and it is selfish. We need to bring down the temperature and solve the problem to make sure parents are involved and students feel comfortable and we're giving them a robust education."
Dixon responded: "We've received the
answer now that she's not going to stand with parents on this issue."
And Whitmer shot back: "Do you really think books pose a greater danger to our kids than gun violence does? Mrs. Dixon is trying to distract us."
Source: CNN Politics on 2022 Michigan Gubernatorial race
Oct 25, 2022
Leslie Love:
Ban "girls' toys"/"boys' toys" from fast food meals
Should gender matter when ordering fast food children's meals? For a Michigan politician who wants to ban "girls' toys" and "boys' toys" from McDonald's Happy Meals and Burger King Jr. Meals for kids, the answer is no. According to USA Today,
Michigan state Rep. Leslie Love, a Democrat, recently introduced a state resolution that asks fast food restaurants not to use gender as the determining factor in which toy a child receives.
Source: The Daily Mealon 2024 Michigan Senate race
Dec 7, 2018
Elissa Slotkin:
Enshrine same-sex marriage into federal law
LGBTQ Rights: Limit or expand?- Mike Rogers (R): Mixed. Opposes trans athletes in women's sports. Says people should not be evicted or fired for being LGBTQ+. Opposed gay marriage, but now says it's the law.
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Elissa Slotkin (D): Expand. Voted to enshrine same-sex marriage into federal law. Voted for "access to gender-affirming care for military families." Voted to prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2024
Haley Stevens:
Introduced bill to improve the Family and Medical Leave Act
I just introduced legislation to improve the Family and Medical Leave Act--making sure both parents can qualify if they work at the same place. That was bipartisan legislation. I'm also working on paid family leave legislation in a similar,
bipartisan way--bringing in small businesses, healthcare providers, and, of course, families and other stakeholders.
Source: The 'Gander on 2026 Michigan Senate race
May 16, 2025
Page last updated: Mar 14, 2026