Advocacy News – June 13, 2024
What happened? This week, the MI Chamber along with other business organizations and leading childcare advocates, held a press conference urging legislators to reconsider both State House and Senate budget provisions that would put Michigan’s childcare environment at risk.
- In the House budget, legislators are attempting to remove over a decade long provision that would require Great State Readiness Program (GSPR) dollars from the community-based organizations (CBOs). This change would mean that CBOs across the state would have to close their doors, in an era where the Great Lakes State does not have enough childcare supply for the current demand. This change was not included in the Governor’s executive recommendation, nor the Senate’s budget.
- Although the MI Chamber firmly believes that early childhood educators should receive a higher salary, the Senate’s budget includes a provision that would require private childcare providers to provide salaries equal to the median annual salary of the public school system, within a regional prosperity district. This idea is concerning because childcare providers to do not have the same funding mechanisms – such as taxpayer dollars – as a public school district. Consequently, this provision would result in an increased cost of childcare tuition, which is not the trajectory Michigan should be on as we continue to work for more affordable childcare.
What we’re saying: “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 MI 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.”
For questions or more information, please contact Leah Robinson at LRobinson@michamber.com.