EDUCATION IS OUR TOP PRIORITY

Transcription

1 EDUCATION IS OUR TOP PRIORITY The SCHOOL AID BUDGET invests more than $ 14 billion into education each year. Over the last seven years, REPUBLICANS have put $ 1.8 billion more into public education. FORTY-SIX CENTS of every state tax dollar goes to public education. Allocated $ 27.9 million this year for a third-grade reading initiative to help build a solid academic foundation, and funding pre-school at $ 244 million. INCREASED Going Pro skilled trades funding to prepare future workers for in-demand jobs in career and technical education.

2 FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC SENATE REPUBLICANS took action to help combat the abuse of prescription drugs with new legislation. PASSED LEGISLATION to better educate students and patients about the dangers of becoming addicted to doctor prescribed painkillers and ensure better reporting by physicians to monitor the number of opioids prescribed.

3 SECURING TEACHER RETIREMENT SENATE REPUBLICANS passed meaningful reforms that secure the retirement of teachers currently in our classrooms and put the next generation of teachers retirement on stronger financial footing. Under the plan, the legislature will make a significant payment toward long term debt in addition to the billions of dollars we already contribute toward retirement costs. The NEW TEACHER RETIREMENT REFORM provides future school employees with a competitive retirement plan that is flexible and portable to meet their long-term goals retirees and current school employees will see no change in their retirement.

4 HONORING OUR HEROES To ensure VETERANS receive the proper care they deserve, SENATE REPUBLICANS increased funding for more staff and training at veterans homes. PASSED LEGISLATION that would waive the $ 10 fee for veterans who want a state identification card, granting them access to many valuable programs they ve earned through their service. INCREASED FUNDING for the National Guard Tuition Assistance Fund by $ 500,000, bringing the total funding to $ 4 MILLION.

5 PROTECTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE PASSED LEGISLATION to make it illegal to aid or perform Female Genital Mutilation a heinous and oppressive procedure that permanently deforms women. INCREASED COMPENSATION that health care providers can receive for performing sexual assault kits and other related services. The CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION ACT provides for reimbursement and compensation to crime victims, ensuring prompt reporting of these horrific crimes to law enforcement. #MISenate

6 MICHIGAN IS THE COMEBACK STATE! At 4.5%, Michigan s unemployment rate is lower than the national average. More than 500,000 new private sector jobs have been added to our economy in seven years more than any other Great Lakes state and SIXTH BEST IN THE NATION. Our falling population trend has been reversed. MICHIGAN HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN POPULATION IN EACH OF THE LAST SIX YEARS. Our children no longer have to leave to find good paying jobs Michigan is working again! Michigan ranks #1 in the nation for CREATING NEW MANUFACTURING JOBS and we lead all the Great Lakes states in job creation. #MISenate

7 COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY The Fiscal Year 18 budget invests $ 12.2 million to hire 150 new State Police Troopers to keep our communities safe and ADDED $ 1.5 MILLION to bolster efforts to prevent, detect and investigate cyber-crimes. PASSED LEGISLATION now law ensuring that bad actors stay off the streets by allowing police departments complete access to reasons why a police officer was removed from employment with another police department even if that person quit before they could be fired. INCREASED SECURITY at the pump with legislation that requires gas station owners to put security measures on the pumps to combat the scourge of skimmers stealing credit card information.

8 MOVING MICHIGAN INTO THE FUTURE CREATED INCENTIVES to attract businesses that create hundreds of new good paying jobs in our state with the GOOD JOBS FOR MICHIGAN PACKAGE. The MICHIGAN THRIVE PACKAGE was signed into law to spur large scale redevelopment projects in our major cities to revitalize downtowns and urban areas across the state. Created the MICHIGAN FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER SAVINGS ACCOUNT a tax deductible savings plan for families to save toward the purchase of their first home to encourage young adults to purchase their first home here in Michigan and to remain in our great state.

9 PROTECTING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES SENATE REPUBLICANS invested an additional $ 13 MILLION in the FY 18 budget in our state parks and trails for continued improvements, updates and developments.

10 A BALANCED BUDGET AHEAD OF SCHEDULE SENATE REPUBLICANS have passed a balanced budget ahead of schedule for seven years in a row! Turned a $ 1.8 billion structural deficit into a NEARLY $ 900 MILLION SURPLUS in the state s rainy day fund up from $ 2 million just seven years ago. REDUCED UNFUNDED LIABILITIES by more than $ 20 billion, boosting bond ratings and lowering debt costs for our children and grandchildren.