State of Michigan Archives: on Families & Children


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • The above quotations are from State of Michigan Politicians: Archives.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Families & Children:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)
Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021