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February 28, 2020
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In This Update:
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- Action Still Needed to Stop Payday Lending Expansion Bill
- Elder Abuse Prevention Package Clears Michigan House
- 2020 Census: Your Answers Are Confidential
- Alert! Michigan's U.S. Senators Vote Against Pro-Life Legislation
- Michigan Presidential Primary is March 10
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Action Still Needed to Stop Payday Lending Expansion Bill
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 Thank you to all who have emailed your State Representative in opposition to House Bill 5097, a measure to expand payday lending in Michigan. As the bill remains before the House Ways and Means Committee, it is important lawmakers hear from those they represent before voting. Your messages are making a difference. As a reminder, the bill-sponsored by Representative Brandt Iden (R-Oshtemo Township)-would provide payday lenders the authority to offer small loans of up to $2,500. The current limit is $600. Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) has the following concerns with the bill, including that it:
- Charges borrowers an exorbitant 132 annual percentage rate (APR), or an eleven percent interest rate per month.
- Lacks adequate consumer protections.
- Leaves too many borrowers vulnerable to becoming entrapped in a crippling cycle of debt.
- Does not require the borrower's payments to be put towards the principal of the loan.
- Provides no limit to the length of the loan.
If you have not already sent a message on this critical issue, TAKE ACTION NOW. |
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Elder Abuse Prevention Package Clears Michigan House
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 On Tuesday, February 25, state lawmakers in the Michigan House widely approved legislation seeking to prevent abuse of elder adults-anyone 80 years of age or older-in Michigan. House Bills 4254- 4260 and 4265 would prohibit a person from assaulting or restraining an elder adult and would expand embezzlement crimes against a vulnerable adult to also include elder adults. The sponsors of the bill package include Representatives Doug Wozniak (R-Shelby Twp.), Graham Filler (R-Ovid), Kyra Bolden (D-Southfield), Kathy Crawford (R-Novi), Tenisha Yancey (D-Harper Woods), Vanessa Guerra (D-Saginaw), Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), and Diana Farrington (R-Utica). MCC supports the bipartisan measures and will continue to advocate for their final approval as the bills transition now to the Senate for further consideration. |
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2020 Census: Your Answers Are Confidential
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The U.S. 2020 Census begins in March. This process gathers a count of every person living in the country as of April 1, 2020. Are you concerned about your privacy during this process? Under federal law, the U.S. Census Bureau must always keep your responses secure and encrypted. Those answers can only be used for statistical purposes and cannot be used against you or shared with others, including law enforcement or other government offices. Take a few minutes to be counted! Learn more at www.micatholic.org/2020Census. |
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Alert! Michigan's U.S. Senators Vote Against Pro-Life Legislation
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 This week, the U.S. Senate failed to obtain needed support for the advancement of two pro-life measures. In the Senate, 60 votes are needed to overcome a filibuster and force a vote on the legislation. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (S. 3275) would protect unborn children from late-term abortions. It failed to advance by a vote of 53 to 44. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (S. 311) would prohibit infanticide by ensuring that a child born alive following an abortion would receive the same degree of care to preserve his or her life and health as would be given to any other child born alive at the same gestational age. It failed to advance by a vote of 56 to 41. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) commented on the failed action, saying:
"It is appalling that even one senator, let alone more than 40, voted to continue the brutal dismemberment of nearly full-grown infants, and voted against protecting babies who survive abortion. Our nation is better than this, and the majority of Americans who support these bills must make their voices heard."
Send a message now to Michigan Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, who both voted against the advancement of the two bills, to express your disappointment with their votes: |
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Michigan Presidential Primary is March 10
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On Tuesday, March 10, Michiganders will have the opportunity to participate in the Presidential Primary Election. MCC urges all who are eligible to consider their voting choices prayerfully and to make sure their ballot is cast on Tuesday, March 10. In preparation for the election, Michiganders can check their registration status, view their sample ballot, and create plans for casting their ballot.
- You may check your registration status at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/. If you are not registered, you may do so through Election Day, as Michigan now offers Same-Day Registration.
- During the upcoming primary, Michigan voters can only vote for one party. Voters will have the choice between filling out a Democratic ticket, a Republican ticket, or ballot that only includes the local proposals. (Note: Each of the partisan ballots also include the local proposals).
- Find the candidates and issues on your ballot by viewing a sample ballot.
- All absentee ballots are due to your local clerk no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, March 6.
- Polls will be open on March 10 from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.
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