State of Michigan Archives: on Welfare & Poverty
Gretchen Whitmer:
Fight urban poverty, end racial disparities in employment
After touring the state and hearing directly from people who face these challenges every day, I have a deeper understanding of the policies our state needs to revitalize our cities, embrace our diversity as a strength and get things done that will help
fight urban poverty.To accomplish this goal, my administration will pursue policies in the following areas:- Pathways to Employment
- Closing the Economic Inequity Gap
- Safe Communities and Affordable Housing
- Ending Racial Disparities
Source: 2022 Michigan Gubernatorial website GretchenWhitmer.com
Mar 24, 2020
Debbie Stabenow:
Administration out of touch with struggling families
Hundreds of thousands of Americans who rely on the federal food stamp program will lose their benefits under a new Trump administration rule that will tighten work requirements for recipients.
The plan will limit states from exempting work-eligible adults from having to maintain steady employment in order to receive benefits. The Agriculture Department estimates the change would save roughly $
5.5 billion over five years and cut benefits for roughly 688,000 SNAP recipients. Sen. Debbie Stabenow said the plan will only serve to punish workers whose jobs are seasonal or unreliable. "This administration is out of touch with families who
are struggling to make ends meet by working seasonal jobs or part time jobs with unreliable hours," said Stabenow, the top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry.
Source: Chicago Tribune interview of Michigan Senator
Dec 5, 2019
Bill Schuette:
Welfare must balance hand up aid with helping able find work
"Michigan has a responsibility to reevaluate and ensure that taxpayer-funded programs are not only efficient but that they are ensuring the best outcomes," said
Schuette.ÿÿ"Welfare programs must always be judged on their ability to give a hand up to citizens in need of help and by their ability to identify and eliminate hurdles to helping able-bodied citizens find a place in our workforce."
Source: 2018 Michigan Governor campaign website BillSchuette.com
Aug 31, 2018
John James:
Eliminate poverty instead of just making it more comfortable
Dependency should not be the destiny of any American.
Michigan deserves a Senator who will work to eliminate poverty, not just make it more comfortable.
Source: 2018 Michigan Senate campaign website JohnJamesForSenate.com
Mar 2, 2018
Bob Young:
We can't continue with an entitlement mentality
Q: What do you want to change?
A: The entitlement mentality is something I'm going to try and arrest when I get to Washington. The democrats like Debbie Stabenow are bribing our citizens by using your taxpayer dollars to cause you to accept handouts.
Source: Michigan's Big Show on 2018 Michigan Senate race
Jul 19, 2017
Abdul El-Sayed:
Economic well-being means helping those less privileged
El-Sayed said Ann Arbor will be important to this campaign, considering its history of producing "people-first policy." El-Sayed said students need to recognize their privilege if any empathetic work is to be done. "The economy is largely
subsidized by people who often don't have access to our institutions," El-Sayed said. "We need to translate economic well-being into helping the lives of people who aren't as privileged."
Source: MI Daily Staff on 2018 Michigan Gubernatorial race
Mar 13, 2017
Randy Hekman:
Transform to nonprofit/charity model to provide assistance
During the debate, Kaine pitched himself as a moderate political leader, mentioning frequently that he cut state spending by $5 billion during his time as governor, while simultaneously making investments in infrastructure and human development.
Allen criticized Kaine for accepting the role of chairman of the Democratic National Committee, saying he should have spent his final year as governor on state priorities, "not the national partisan role of advocating for President Obama's policies."
Source: Petoskey News on 2012 Michigan Senate debate
Feb 20, 2012
Rick Snyder:
No welfare benefits for people with felony warrants
New bills require the state to develop an automated system that will facilitate information sharing. Soon cross-checking the names of people receiving public assistance against a database of outstanding felony warrants in order to make sure only
those who are eligible are able to receive public assistance will be possible.It is already illegal for anyone with a felony warrant to collect welfare benefits, but the state does not currently have a good system in place.
Source: Michigan 2011 gubernatorial press release, #264222
Oct 18, 2011
Mike Bishop:
Require able-bodied welfare recipients to work
Bishop indicates support of the following principles regarding welfare.- Maintain current time limits on welfare benefits.
- Maintain the requirement that able-bodied recipients work in order to receive benefits.
-
Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
- Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
- Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
Source: 2000 Michigan National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2000
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021