In News Releases

For Immediate Release: December 7, 2016

Contact: Alex Rossman
arossman@mlpp.org
517.487.5436

LANSING—The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement on today’s passage of Senate Bill 800, a supplemental budget bill that will provide food assistance for 338,000 families in Michigan. The year-end budget bill includes an investment of $6.8 million in state funds that will fix an issue with the federal Heat and Eat program, restoring approximately $76 per month in food assistance for 338,000 low-income families. The League has worked closely on the Heat and Eat issue since it arose in 2014. The statement may be attributed to League Vice President Karen Holcomb-Merrill.

“We have been working on this issue for several years, and on behalf of the 338,000 families who will soon have more food to eat with this fix, we applaud the Legislature for their passage of this bill. In particular, we want to recognize the persistence of Representatives Jeff Irwin and Sam Singh and Senator Curtis Hertel Jr. to keep this issue prominent from the budget process in the spring until now. We also want to thank Appropriations Chairs Representative Al Pscholka and Senator Dave Hildenbrand for upholding this amendment, and all legislators from both sides of the aisle who voted for it this afternoon.

“At a time when political tensions have been high, it’s refreshing to see policymakers come together on this important issue to help curb hunger for Michigan residents, including seniors and people with disabilities. We now look to Governor Rick Snyder to keep up the consensus and sign the bill to turn this good news into good policy.”

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The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on economic opportunity for all. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.

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