Michigan childcare and business leaders Tuesday urged state legislators to reconsider budget changes that would cause childcare facilities to close, worsening the state’s childcare crisis. The coalition warned that budget language eliminating childcare funding for community-based organizations (CBO) and hindering childcare provider employment would have disastrous effects.
“Affordable, accessible childcare is a key hurdle facing employers and working parents alike across Michigan as our ‘Untapped Potential’ report last year reaffirmed,” said Leah Robinson, director of legislative affairs for the Michigan Chamber. “That’s why we have to keep moving forward, together, on building up our childcare providers and infrastructure, not weakening them. These proposals would unfortunately jeopardize the progress that’s been made. Our state’s families and businesses simply can’t afford that.”