Who doesn’t support paid family and medical leave in Michigan? The West Michigan Policy Forum

In May, Senate Bill 332 was introduced, legislation that would provide paid family and medical leave. In a September 6th statement from Governor Whitmer’s office, it states:

Too many Michiganders cannot be there for their families without sacrificing a paycheck. No one should have to choose between their health, their newborn, or a sick relative and paying the bills and putting food on the table.

In May, the proposed legislation went to the Housing and Human Services Committee, but there has been no public hearing on the matter as of yet, thus it remains in that committee. 

In Whitmer’s address to state lawmakers in late August, the Governor had this to say about the paid family and medical leave bill:

“It helps workers be there for their families. It gives you breathing room to get better when you’re sick, to bond with your baby or care for a family member. Right now, 77% of Michigan workers do not have access to paid family, medical leave.”

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce has come out against the proposed legislation, which is consistent with their position on anything that would benefit workers. You can read their position on the issue here, then click on SB 332.

One of the organizations that makes up the Grand Rapids Power Structure has taken notice of SB 332, and has posted 3 articles within the past week alone. The West Michigan Policy Forum (WMPF), which is the leading right wing organization in West Michigan on public policy in Michigan.

In the first article from the WMPF, they are making an old argument, which says that the proposed legislation will negatively impact small businesses. This is one of the oldest and most common arguments from groups like the Chamber of Commerce and the West MI Policy Forum. The reality is that these entities don’t really care about small businesses, which have virtually no representation on their boards. Also, what were these pro-businesses doing to help prevent small businesses from going under during the peak of the COVID pandemic?

In a second article on the West Michigan Policy Forum’s website, they are making the argument that it will negatively hurt the working families around the issue of taxes. This article says nothing about how the current tax policies in Michigan overwhelmingly benefit the business class over workers, plus they don’t acknowledge that one of the first priorities of the West Michigan Policy Forum was to eliminate the business tax back in 2011. 

The third, and final article, features WMPF’s Board Chair John Kennedy, who argues that if SB 332 were to be adopted that it “would be disastrous” for Michigan. What Kennedy really means is that SB 332 would likely increase taxes on Michigan businesses and allow for greater flexibility for when people can take family and medical leave. All of this would of course be beneficial for workers and their families, which people like Autocam Medical’s CEO John Kennedy doesn’t make a priority. 

What is important to note about John Kennedy and other members of the West Michigan Policy Forum is their consistent commitment to putting profits over workers, their role in the interlocking systems of power in Grand Rapids and their significant campaign contributions to Republican candidates and incumbents, all of which support their policy platforms that line up with the WMPF vision – like Right to Work, undermining Public Education, attacking public sector unions, increasing austerity measures in state policies and supporting tax policies that benefit those with the most wealth. This is just one of the many reasons why those who identify as being part of the left or even progressives, should not ignore what groups like the West Michigan Policy Forum are doing.