Why Policy Matters to Southeast Michigan

Webinar presented July 10, 2013 by Michigan League for Public Policy. Sponsored by the Council of Michigan Foundations, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Jewish Fund.

1. July 10, 2013, 10 a.m.
Gilda Z. Jacobs, President & CEO
Renell Weathers, Outreach Director
Why Policy Matters to
Southeast Michigan
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2. 1223 Turner St. Suite G-1, Lansing, MI 48906-4369 [phone]
Fax: [phone] Web site: www.mlpp.org
A United Way Agency
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The League
is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and advocacy organization dedicated to economic
opportunity for all in Michigan.
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
is a
permanent community endowment that works to improve the quality of life in Southeast Michigan by
connecting those who care with causes that matter.
The Jewish Fund
The Jewish Fund was established in 1997 fr om the proceeds of the sale of Sinai
Hospital to the Detroit Medical Center. The Jewish F und continues the tradition of assuring excellent and
compassionate care for those in need in Metr opolitan Detroit through its annual grantmaking.
The Council of Michigan Foundations
is a nonprofit membership association
of more than 350 grant-making organizations workin g together to strengthen, promote and increase
philanthropy in Michigan.

3. Used with permission
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4. •Child poverty in region up by 28%
•Detroit has most concentrated
poverty of 50 largest cites
•Unemployment in region higher
than before Great Recession
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SE Michigan families struggle long
after Great Recession receded

5. A decade of disinvestment
-30%
-15%
0%
15%
30%
45%
60%
53%
21%
-7%
-0.8%
-5%
-29%
-25%
16%
7%
Percent Change
Change in Detroit
CPI FY 2003-FY 2013: 21%
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6. The (wrong) solutions
•Cut business
taxes
•Raise taxes on
working poor
•Cut programs
for kids and
families
•Disinvest in
education
•Fight
Obamacare
•Sequestration
….
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7. The cost of not expanding Medicaid
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Wayne Oakland Macomb Livingston Monroe St. Clair Washtenaw
47%
38% 38%
34%
38%
41%
45%Percent of Uninsured In SE MI That Would Be
Covered with Medicaid Expansion
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8. •Without expanded
Medicaid, many
women will not get
needed
preconception care.
•Infant mortality
reduction plan
remains
underfunded at $2
million in FY14.
Infant
Mortality
Michigan
7.1 deaths per
1,000 live births
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9. $132 (201)
9
$132 (201)
Many
children
still can’t
visit
dentists
•442,000 children
now covered in 75
of MI’s 83 counties.
•Only five counties are
not covered including
Oakland, Macomb,
and Wayne counties.
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10. Poverty in Michigan
20.7%
8.6%8.3%
5.9%
6.8%
12.3%
12.7%
14.0%
25.9%
11.1%
14.3%
6.5%
12.2%
15.9%
16.9%
17.5%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Wayne Oakland Macomb Livingston Monroe St. Clair Washtenaw Michigan
2007
2011
25% 29% 72% 10% 79% 29% 33% 25%
Percent
Change
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11. Poverty in SE Michigan
0%
10%
20%
30%
Total Poverty Child Poverty
13.7%
20.0%
17.8%
25.7%
2007
2011
Source: American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau
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12. Overall ranking in child well-being
County Rank Livingston 2
Oakland 5
Washtenaw 6
Monroe 16
Macomb 18
St. Clair 33
Wayne 76
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13. Average
monthly
recipients
for all public
assistance
programs
FY 12
Michigan
$148.9 million
1.1 million people
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14. Cash Assistance caseloads in SE MI
31,610
4,385
272
4,037
811
1,0551,275
20,566
2,955
172
3,210
447673769
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
Wayne Oakland Livingston Macomb Monroe St. Clair Washtenaw
2010
2013
83,085
54,161
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
2010 2013
Michigan
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15. Average
number of
households
receiving
food
assistance
in SE MI
49.7% of all
Food Assistance Program
cases are in these seven
counties
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16. Median Household Income
in SE Michigan
$42,470
$66,483
$55,101
$70,735
$53,750
$45,873
$61,049
$47,950
$38,479
$61,888
$50,891
$67,441
$53,744
$45,676
$56,612
$45,981
$0
$10,000
$20,000
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
$60,000
$70,000
$80,000
Wayne Oakland Macomb Livingston Monroe St. Clair Washtenaw Michigan
2007
2011
-9.4% -6.9% -7.6% 4.7% 0.0% -0.4% -7.3% -4.1%
Percent
Change
Adjusted for inflation
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17. SE Michigan Unemployment Rate
7.3%
8.4%
14.4%
13.3%
11.0%
10.0%
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
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18. The Big Tax Shift
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Taxes on Businesses CUT
83%
Taxes on Individuals UP
23%

19. $132 (201)
EITC
losses for
families
in SE
Michigan
total
$125
million
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$132 (201)
Michigan
2011: $353,494,082
2012: $106,048,225
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20. Tax policy changes hurt
Food Bank Council of Michigan
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21. SE Michigan sequester fallout
Automatic
across-the-board cuts
Head start, education,
healthcare, job training
21,000 kids
losing clothing allowance
for one year
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22. Changes since 2010
•48-month lifelong limit on cash assistance.
•Asset test added to limits on who can receive food assistance.
•Annual clothing allowance rules tightened for kids on cash assistance
•Clothing allowance eliminated in FY13
•Unemployment benefits reduced
•Cash assistance cut to parents of truants
•Pending bill to reimburse the department if they’ve won more than $600 from the Michigan
Lottery in the past decade
•Pending legislation would mandate public assistan ce applicants or clients undergo testing if
they’re suspected of drug use. Those testing positive would have to undergo treatment to
keep their benefits.
•New legislation would create an asset test to further limit the number of parents qualified
for public-funded child care.
•The state Earned Income Tax Credit rate was dr opped last year to 6 percent of the federal
rate, down from 20 percent.
•The homestead property tax credit, also a state income tax write-off, was reduced.
•A $600 per-child state income tax exemption was e liminated. It applies to everyone, but hits
low-income people the hardest.
•Charitable tax deductions were eliminated, causing a drop in donations to food banks,
homeless shelters and other resources for the poor.
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23. Policy changes impact SE MI
A
NNUAL
L
OSSOF
A
SSISTANCE
:
= $82.2 Mil
= $53.6 Mil
TOTAL = $135.8 million
each year for region
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24. Education matters
•State has cut $1.6 billion a year in
spending over the last decade
•Half came from education
•Good news: $65 million for
preschool
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25. Questions?
Click hand icon to raise your hand to ask a
question. You will be unmuted.
OR
Type your question in the webinar tool box.
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26. •Put it in writing
•Make a call
•Put in face time
•Build a relationship
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Advocacy tools

27. •Friends
•Title or position
•Information
•Numbers
•Constituents
•Money
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What influences decision makers
Voices Leadership Training Michigan's Children

28. Voices Leadership Training Michigan's Children
Fur
Affection
Costliness
Sneezing
Shedding
Kitty Litter Cleanliness
Cat Food
Vets
Cat frame
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29. “When you need a
friend, it’s too late to
make one.”
—Mark Twain
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30. Tips
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31. Form emails
Form letters
Phone calls
Individualized emails
Individualized letters
In-person meetings
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
A lot of
influence
Some influence No influence at all
Influence of Advocacy Communications on Legislators
Source: Congressional Management Foundation
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32. oLearn if you need to be a
registered lobbyist, and if you do,
register to be a lobbyist and
become an active participant in
impacting policy decisions.
oRegistration handled by the
Michigan Secretary of State’s office
-
http://www.michigan.gov/sos/.
Know the rules
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33. No No's
•Nonprofits classified 501(c)(3) cannot endorse,
contribute to, coordinate with, or align in any way
with candidates or political parties.
•Nonprofits may not lobby using government funds.
When in doubt…
•As an individual, you are entitled to engage in
unlimited lobbying and political activity, provided
you do so on your own time without using
nonprofit assets.
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34. •The Michigan League for Public Policy is here
as a resource to you as you advocate for
low-income Michigan residents
•Sign up for our Budget Briefs series at
www.mlpp.org
•Join the Prosperity Coalition
•Access the League’s advocacy trainings
We can help!
1223 Turner St. Suite G-1, Lansing, MI 48906-4369 [phone]
Fax: [phone] Web site: www.mlpp.org
A United Way Agency
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