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News

Vote No on Proposal 1

07/20/10
Michigan Catholic Conference is a member of the ballot question committee Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution, which is working to oppose Proposal 1 of 2010. Prop 1 will ask Michigan voters at the November general election if the state should conduct a constitutional convention in 2011. Continue reading…
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Lansing Update

07/02/10
July 2, 2010

The current issue of Lansing Update has been posted to the Michigan Catholic Conference Web site at:

http://www.micatholicconference.org/public-policy/publications/lansing-update/

1.  Enhanced Support for Non-Public Schools Highlight Budget Week

2.  State of Michigan Budget Woes Continue as State Awaits Fed Action

A Call to Conscience

06/15/10
The arch/bishops' statement, A Call to Conscience: Faithful Citizenship and the Common Good, reminds Catholics of their moral obligation to participate in the democratic process, to form their consciences based on Scripture and Catholic Social Teaching, and to evaluate candidates through the lens of faith. Continue reading…
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Lansing Update

05/28/10
The current issue of Lansing Update has been posted to the Michigan Catholic Conference Web site at:

http://www.micatholicconference.org/public-policy/publications/lansing-update/


1. DCH Budget Off to Conference While Human Embryo Research Holds Up Higher Ed Spending

 House Judiciary Committee Takes Testimony on Statute of Limitations Bill

05/01/10
The current issue of Lansing Update has been posted to the Michigan Catholic Conference Web site at:

http://www.micatholicconference.org/public-policy/publications/lansing-update/


1.  House Judiciary Committee Takes Testimony on Statute of Limitations Bill

Questions and Answers on Statute of Limitations Bill

04/24/10
Legislation has been scheduled for a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee for Wednesday, April 28 that would amend the state’s statute of limitations on child sexual abuse. Questions and answers are provided here regarding House Bill 5699, its impact on religious and non-public institutions, and addresses the fact that the bill fails to include all sectors of society by not including government institutions. Continue reading…
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The current issue of Lansing Update

04/23/10
The current issue of Lansing Update has been posted to the Michigan Catholic Conference Web site at:

http://www.micatholicconference.org/public-policy/publications/lansing-update/


1.  Senate Passes Human Embryo Research Transparency Bills

MCC Praises Senate for Passing Human Embryo Research Transparency Legislation

04/21/10
(Lansing) – The following statement was released today by Paul A. Long, Michigan Catholic Conference Vice President for Public Policy, after the State Senate passed with bipartisan support Senate Bills 647-652, legislation that seeks to ensure human embryo research is conducted with transparency and accountability in Michigan:

"While human embryo experimentation represents a direct attack on human life itself, the fact that voters approved Proposal 2 in 2008 should not prevent the Legislature from passing common sense provisions that penalize those who operate outside of the law. The passage of the 2008 ballot measure did nothing to ensure transparency or accountability in human embryo research, and may very well have opened the door for illegal research to be conducted by unscrupulous individuals seeking profit from suffering patients. Senate Bills 647-652 ensures those who conduct human embryo research in this state, either within public institutions or at private companies, are doing so in a legal and transparent manner.

"Additional provisions of the legislative package – that which call for simple reporting requirements, ensuring informed consent is obtained in IVF clinics, banning the creation of human-animal chimeric embryos, and upholding the intent of Michigan’s cloning ban by prohibiting the trafficking of cloned human embryos into the state - are common-sense measures that deserve further support. Michigan Catholic Conference applauds the Senate for its vote today, and encourages the House of Representatives to follow suit by passing Senate Bills 647-652 in a timely fashion."

Statement on Ad Campaign Attacking Congressman Bart Stupak

03/19/10
MCC released the following statement in regard to a television advertising campaign that misrepresents the Catholic Church’s position on health care reform, and attacks Congressman Bart Stupak for his efforts to prohibit taxpayer funded abortion in the current health care reform debate. Read press release…
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Lansing Update

03/12/10
The current issue of Lansing Update has been posted to the Michigan Catholic Conference Web site at:

http://www.micatholicconference.org/public_policy/publications/lansing_update/

1.  Senate Panel Restores Tuition Grant, Addresses Human Embryo Research

2.  Community Health Budget Moves With Medicaid Cuts  

On the Retirement of President/CEO Sister Monica Kostielney, RSM

03/08/10
20100303
After having served the Michigan Catholic Conference for over thirty-five years, the last sixteen as President and Chief Executive Officer, the Conference today announced that the retirement of Sister Monica Kostielney, R.S.M., has been accepted by the organization’s Board of Directors. Read press release…
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Health Care as a Basic Right

02/21/10
20100219
This edition of FOCUS seeks to advance the Church’s support for universal health care, to detail what policy positions must be included in any effort to reform the nation’s health care delivery system, and to provide additional resources for Catholics to learn more about this critical, and morally relevant public policy. View document…
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Lansing Update

02/12/10
The current issue of Lansing Update has been posted to the Michigan Catholic Conference Web site at:

http://www.micatholicconference.org/public_policy/publications/lansing_update/

1.  Governor Details 2010–11 Budget Recommendations Amidst $1.7 Billion Deficit

2.  "Body Parts" Bill Moves on to Full Senate    

Lansing Update

01/22/10
The current issue of Lansing Update has been posted to the Michigan Catholic Conference Web site at:

http://www.micatholicconference.org/public_policy/publications/lansing_update/

1.  Senate Committee Moves Embryo Research Transparency Bills

2.  Senate Republicans Eye Medicaid Cuts in Plan to Reform State Government  

Statement on Passage of Human Embryo Research Legislation

01/20/10
MCC offered the following statement after the Senate Health Policy Committee voted in a bipartisan fashion to move legislation that addresses transparency in human embryo research. Read press release…
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The current issue of Lansing Update

12/12/09
The current issue of Lansing Update has been posted to the Michigan Catholic Conference Web site at:

http://www.micatholicconference.org/public_policy/publications/lansing_update/

1.  Workplace Smoking Ban to Go in Effect May 2010

2.  Church to Continue Pursuit of Health Care Reform Legislation

3.  Catholic Conference Urges Support for Statewide Public Defender System

4.  Education Reforms Fly as Legislature Focuses on Federal Race to the Top Funding  

Protect the Earned Income Tax Credit for the Poor, Says MCC

12/01/09
The Detroit News’ Faith and Policy column, Michigan Catholic Conference Vice President for Public Policy Paul A. Long calls for the Legislature to abandon efforts to halt or scale back the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit, which was signed into law in 2006 with broad bipartisan support. The Conference has long supported the tax credit due to the benefits it provides the working poor of the state. View document…
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State of Michigan Budget Update

10/30/09
On Friday, October 30, Governor Granholm signed the remaining departmental budgets that finalize spending for the fiscal year that began on October 1. Michigan had been operating on a one month continuation budget since the beginning of October as legislators and the administration attempted to work out differences between revenues and shortfalls.
The budgets signed by the governor protect programs advocated for by the Michigan Catholic Conference, including the Michigan Tuition Grant program, and the children’s clothing allowance and Family Independence Grant in the Department of Human Services.
The Michigan Legislature must now turn its focus to next year’s budget which, according to estimates, already has a $1.2 billion deficit.
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The current issue of Lansing Update

10/09/09
The current issue of Lansing Update has been posted to the Michigan Catholic Conference Web site at:

http://www.micatholicconference.org/public_policy/publications/lansing_update/

1.  Senate Passes EITC Legislation, Efforts to Finalize 2009 State Budget Continue

2.  MCC Statement on Appointment of Bishop-Elect Hebda to Diocese of Gaylord

Legislature Praised for Maintaining Funding for FIP grant

09/30/09
Michigan Catholic Conference Vice President for Public Policy Paul A. Long made the following statement Sept. 29 after the Legislature approved the conference report for the Department of Human Services budget, which maintains funding for the Family Independence Program and the children’s clothing allowance program. Read press release…
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Lansing Update

09/18/09
The current issue of Lansing Update has been posted to the Michigan Catholic Conference Web site at:

http://www.micatholicconference.org/public_policy/publications/lansing_update/

1.  Multiple Budget Scenarios Arise After House Speaker, Senate Majority Leader Strike Target Agreement

“2009 State of Michigan Budget Countdown”

09/16/09
Michigan is currently facing a $2.7 billion budget deficit for the fiscal year that begins October 1. Should legislative leaders fail to compromise on a solution, the state will be forced to discontinue services and shut down until revenues are agreed upon. MCC, whose position on the budget can be read here, will be posting daily updates on its Twitter page and list updated news reports below. Please take a moment to contact your State Representative and Senator through the Action Alert below, and urge them to fund services that protect Michigan’s poor and vulnerable population.

Lansing Update

09/11/09
The current issue of Lansing Update has been posted to the Michigan Catholic Conference Web site at:

http://www.micatholicconference.org/public_policy/publications/lansing_update/

1.  $2.7 Billion Budget Deficit Remains as September 30 Deadline Looms

2.  MCC Board of Directors Statement on State of Michigan Budget

3.  MCC Board of Directors Says No to 2010 Constitutional Convention

4.  Legislation Prohibiting Conscience Rights for Pharmacies Passes Committee

5.  Follow Us on Twitter @MiCatholicConf

Poverty in Michigan

09/02/09
200909022
While legislative leaders seek to diminish further Michigan’s social safety net in an effort to balance the state’s $2.8 billion deficit, the Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors today approved a statement calling for solidarity with the state’s poorest citizens and urges legislators to enact a budget that protects essential needs. Read press release…
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MCC Calls for a Constitutional Convention

09/02/09
Michigan Catholic Conference has approved a statement that does not support the call for a constitutional convention in 2010. Michigan voters at the November 2010 general election ballot will decide whether or not the state will conduct a constitutional convention in 2011. Article 12, Section 3 of the 1963 Michigan Constitution calls for a vote of the people every 16 years to determine if delegates appointed from each House and Senate district should rewrite the state’s guiding document. Read press release…
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Children’s clothing allowance an important back-to-school boost

08/26/09
20090826
Michigan Catholic Conference Vice President for Public Policy Paul Long and Michigan League for Human Services President and CEO Sharon Parks have co-authored a letter supporting current funding levels for the state’s clothing allowance program. The program, which is in jeopardy due to the state’s $2.8 billion budget deficit, helps the most needy children in Michigan afford clothing for the new school year. The piece has been distributed to newspapers across the state. View document…
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State Programs Assisting the Poor in Danger

08/24/09
20090824
Several elected officials are calling for a “shared pain” approach to balancing the state’s $2.8 billion budget deficit. MCC is urging opposition to this position as the state departments responsible for ensuring the health and safety of Michigan’s poor and vulnerable population have already suffered harmful budget cuts. It’s time to say “enough is enough.” Please take a few moments to contact your elected officials today and urge opposition to any approach that further harms those most in need. Visit web site…
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Michigan CC: Don't Balance Budget on Backs of the Poor

08/05/09
20090805
On Wednesday, August 5, several statewide human service advocacy groups, including the Michigan Catholic Conference, conducted a press conference at the State Capitol urging the Legislature not to balance the state’s budget deficit on the backs of the poor. The message was included in a letter signed by 27 organizations calling for an end to the “shared pain” approach to balancing the $1.8 billion deficit. View document…
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Church Fights to Keep Tax Credit for the Poor

07/23/09
This week House Republicans introduced a plan to balance the state’s $1.7 billion deficit, which includes halting the full implementation of the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit. For several years MCC fought for the creation of this policy in an effort to lower the disproportionate tax burden on the working poor. More information about the EITC can be found in Anderson Economic Group’s “A Hand Up for Michigan Workers” 2008 report below. Visit website…
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MCC Criticizes Congresswoman Kilpatrick’s Vote to Support Public Funding of Abortion in D.C

07/09/09
“Considering the abortion business’s own research indicates that public funding more than doubles the number of abortions, it is challenging to recognize Congresswoman Kilpatrick’s vote as anything but a nod to the abortion industry,” said the Conference. Read press release…