MORE DETAILS: Whitmer Proposes Tax Breaks, Capping Cost Of Insulin

Governor Gretchen Whitmer proposed a repeal of the retirement tax in her State of the State address. Rolling back this tax on retirement income, including pensions, 401(k) accounts, and IRAs would save half a million households $1,000 a year.

“Repealing the retirement tax will put Michiganders first and save half a million households $1,000 a year,” said Governor Whitmer. “Michiganders who have worked hard, played by the rules, and budgeted for their whole lives should be able to retire and keep all of their hard-earned dollars. Putting money back in the pockets of retirees will help them afford the essentials from prescriptions, rent, utilities, car payments, to gifts for their grandkids.”

“I worked for 31 years as a Steelworker. In 2004 I retired with a pension to provide for my wife and me. My pension is a lynchpin for our financial security,” Steve Turri, a resident of Negaunee and retired Steelworker. “The law that taxed my pension years later has been unfair to us. I fully support the Governor’s proposal to repeal the pension tax.”

Whitmer proposed increasing Michigan’s Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, in her State of the State address. Increasing the EITC, a tax cut for working families, would deliver an average combined tax refund of $3,000 to 730,000 Michiganders, helping them pay the bills and put food on the table.

“Raising the state EITC puts Michiganders first by putting nearly $3,000 back in their pockets when paired with the federal EITC,” said Governor Whitmer. “Michiganders who work full-time but still can’t get ahead deserve to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. As part the MI New Economy plan, I set an ambitious goal of lifting 100,000 working families out of Poverty. Delivering on this tax cut for working families will pull over 22,000 Michiganders out of working poverty and make significant progress towards that goal, while raising incomes for 730,000 workers and benefitting nearly 1 million kids—nearly half the kids in Michigan. This refund for working families is a game-changer for so many Michiganders, and I know we can work together to get this done.”

“The Michigan Catholic Conference has long been a supporter of expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit in Michigan and was instrumental in its original creation. The EITC does more to lift people out of poverty, while encouraging the dignity of work, than any other policy in state government,” said Paul Long, President and CEO of the Michigan Catholic Conference. “We are eager to work with the Governor and those in the Legislature who have been working to advance the expansion of the EITC for many years.”

Michiganders who work hard every day to provide for their families deserve a break and a bigger tax refund. Governor Whitmer wants to restore the Michigan EITC to its original amount and deliver an average tax refund of nearly $3,000 to over 730,000 working people.

Whitmer proposed actions to lower the cost of insulin in her State of the State address.

Attorney General Dana Nessel is in court seeking to launch an investigation into one of the three largest manufacturers of insulin in the U.S. and in the legislature, there are bipartisan bills awaiting action that would, among other things, cap the cost of insulin at $50 a month.

“Nearly a million Michiganders need insulin to survive and for too long, drug companies have been skyrocketing prices,” said Governor Whitmer. “I support Attorney General Nessel’s efforts to use the Michigan Consumer Protection Act to put Michiganders first by investigating the role drug companies play in raising prices. I also look forward to working with legislature to cap the cost of insulin.

“Too many Michiganders are forced to ration insulin or forgo it, putting their lives at risk. Some families spend thousands of dollars a year on insulin and prices keep going up—they’ve tripled from 2009 to 2019. Together, we can lower the cost of insulin, hold drug companies accountable, and save lives.”

“The average out-of-pocket cost of a single vial of insulin is nearing $100,” AG Nessel said. “No Michigander should have to face that kind of cost for life-saving medicine. While drug companies profit off of people’s health, they also benefit from a current market in which they control the pricing. Enough is enough. Our Consumer Protection Team, through our Corporate Oversight Division, is ready to devote its full resources to ensure that the proper entities are on the hook for these egregious prices, but we cannot fully protect consumers with one hand tied behind our backs. That is why this action will also pursue reconsideration of the rulings in Smith and Liss.”

Meanwhile, in the Michigan Legislature, Representatives Cambensy and Kahle led a bipartisan effort to cap the cost of insulin at $50 a month. Lowering the cost of insulin will save lives and help Michiganders pay the bills, put food on the table, or save for the future. Governor Whitmer will work with the legislature and the Attorney General to hold drug companies accountable, lower the cost of insulin, and save lives.

Whitmer proposed policies to invest in mental health and grow Michigan’s mental health workforce in her State of the State address.

“We need to invest in our mental health workforce, so we can put Michiganders first and ensure they have the support and resources they need to thrive,” said Governor Whitmer. “Every Michigander deserves access to both mental and physical healthcare. To boost access, we need to expand the Michigan State Loan Repayment Program, build on our work to hire more counselors, social workers, and psychologists on school campuses, and implement parts of my MI Healthy Communities proposal to increase capacity for community-based behavioral health.”

“We applaud the Governor’s proposals to ensure access to quality mental health services, for all Michiganders,” said Robert Sheehan, CEO of the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan. “Governor Whitmer’s proposals to close the behavioral health work force shortage through focused loan repayments, build upon and expand the capacity of Michigan’s nationally recognized community mental health system, foster the sustainability of school-based mental health services and close the coverage gap are exactly the kinds of innovative proposals needed to advance mental health care in Michigan. “

“It’s no secret that in addition to being a health crisis, the pandemic has also created a mental health crisis,” said M. Roy Wilson, President, Wayne State University. “As a university that trains professionals in several behavioral and mental health fields, we fully support the governor’s plan to keep as many of these valuable professionals in Michigan as possible. This is vital to ensure our state’s residents are able to get the care they need, and to ensure our frontline caregivers have the reinforcements they need.”

Whitmer wants every person in Michigan to have access to the healthcare that they deserve—both mental and physical—and will work with anyone to get Michiganders the care they deserve.

She is also calling for an expansion of the Michigan State Loan Repayment Program (MSLRP) program to focused on behavioral health providers and an increase to funding for mental health professionals in our schools. This expansion will help retain or recruit hundreds of mental health care providers to Michigan. Last year, Governor Whitmer also proposed MI Healthy Communities, a $1.4 billion proposal that would increase capacity for community-based behavioral health and substance use disorder treatments.

By making investments in the mental health workforce, Michigan can attract and retain more mental health professionals, open up more appointments, and create good-paying jobs.

MORE DETAILS: Whitmer Proposes Tax Breaks, Capping Cost Of Insulin

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