McCall Hamilton Advocacy and Public Affairs

Updates About Appropriations

Whitmer Leads Letter to Congress on Federal Budget Conversations

Update: Apr 24-May 5, 2023

On April 26, Governor Whitmer led an initiative alongside nine other governors in sending a letter to U.S. congressional leadership expressing their opposition to any efforts to cut programs families rely on as budget negotiations continue in Washington D.C.

Any cuts to these programs would affect millions of Americans and Michigan residents as families rely on programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to feed their children and keep a roof over their head.

The federal budget is currently being negotiated and certain proposals include gutting programs that ensure access to quality health care, childcare, housing, food, and employment. The letter to congressional leadership can be found here.

Michigan Prisons See Increase in Mental, Physical Health Caseloads

Update: Mar 27-Apr 7, 2023

Following testimony in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Corrections, it was revealed that Michigan’s prisoner population has been steadily declining, but the mental and physical health caseload is on the rise.

About a third of Michigan’s prisoner population is currently on active mental health caseload. Approximately 446 patients are awaiting Hepatitis C treatment, while 69 patients are currently receiving treatment. The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) adds about 11 new patients each month, spending an average of $15,122 per patient on Hepatitis C treatment. These costs are a significant portion of the MDOC budget, totaling over $300 million per year.

MDOC is also facing challenges regarding staffing, especially with corrections officers and healthcare staff. There are about 866 total corrections officer vacancies which is equivalent to about 15.3% of total corrections officers. MDOC is prioritizing staffing recruitment and retention efforts as well as combatting the increase in mental and physical health caseload.

Whitmer Signs Lowering MI Costs Plan

Update: Mar 6-24, 2023

On March 8, Governor Whitmer signed a $1.3 billion supplemental appropriations bill that funds economic development incentives for Ford to build a new electric vehicle battery plant in Marshall, recruitment and retention dollars for healthcare workers, and funding for community violence intervention grants. Specifically, the following were included:

  • $630 million for Ford Motor Company’s new EV battery plant to be built in Marshall, MI
  • $75 million to support health care recruitment and retention programs
  • $67 million to support long term care workforce recruitment and retention programs
  • $63.5 million to increase long term care reimbursement rates
  • $10.8 million to establish and office of community violence intervention services
  • $60 million for a competitive grant program to provide grants to community centers
  • $170 million to deposit in the state’s Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund (SOAR)
  • $25 million to deposit in the Water Shutoff Prevention Fund
  • $212 for energy efficiency updates completed by homeowners/landlords