Testimony Presented:
1. Jennifer Shoub – YWCA of Kalamazoo – written testimony
Focused on two issues: first, the cost of quality child care in Michigan. Stated that the average cost for childcare and before/after-school care is $6,978 per child per year. However, the Michigan FIA childcare subsidy rate for low-income families has not increased in more than a decade. The high cost of childcare is a barrier to economic self-sufficiency.
Second: the impact of “failure to protect” reporting when domestic violence occurs in the home (see MCL722.623(3)(1). The enforcement of “failure to protect” clause puts both the victim of domestic violence and her children at greater risk of harm.

2. Sarah Scranton – Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Michigan – written testimony
Focused on five legislative priorities (1) increase funding for pregnancy prevention and family planning; (2) ensure all teens and families have access to medically accurate sex education; (3) require insurance companies to cover contraception in the same way other prescriptions are covered; (4) ensure access to and education about emergency contraception; and (5) access to safe legal abortions.

3. Debi Cain – Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention & Treatment Board
Supported the work being done by task forces of Michigan Women’s Commission regarding harassment in divorce issues. Urged support and collaboration on legislative issues and child welfare issues.

4. Mary Finch – Ingham County Women’s Commission – written testimony
Supported the establishment of more county women’s commissions to ensure access to reproductive planning for women, particularly low-income women; to advocate for equal pay for women; and to encourage efforts to keep affirmative action programs in Michigan.

5. Linda Minter – Women’s Resource Center, Lansing Community College – written testimony
Requested support of educational opportunities for women by working for more financial aid resources; encouraging non-traditional careers; helping to make affordable, quality child care available; and lobbying for more reasonable work rules for students on public assistance.

6. Wanda Lohmeier – individual
Presented information about controlling and abusive behavior towards woman and children in a divorce situation.

7. Judy Burgess – Oakland County Organization for Women
Gave an example of possible discrimination against women. A woman requested assistance after being told that her pregnancy was not covered by her insurance, Fortis Insurance Company, since she hadn’t notified them in advance of the pregnancy and paid for a rider. She ultimately changed insurance carriers. Judy is concerned there may be a pattern of such practices, and the MWC should be aware of possible discrimination.

8. Hilda Patricia Curran – written testimony
Stated that 1999 MI Women’s Commission issued a report on part-time work, and the recommendations are still valid. Supported fringe benefits in proportion to the number of hours worked; equal pay rates with full time workers; consistent work schedules with over time if worked beyond the regularly scheduled hours; eligibility to belong to a union; accrual of seniority and longevity; ability to move into full time jobs or from full time to part time with benefits proportional to the hours worked; and access to educational leave and employer-sponsored training.

9. Connie Zheng - individual
Stated she was a victim of domestic violence, had problems getting assistance from Legal Aid. She used services at MSU Safe Place. Also, needed help with son who was having problems in school.

10. Kathy Hagenian – Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence – written testimony
Supported increase in funding for domestic violence, as there has been no increase in basic grants funding on-going services in 19 years. Also, advocated for funding for sexual assault programs, particularly the forensic nurse examiner program. The coalition is also supportive of working on custody issues.

11. Rev. Dr. Linda Hollies – Woman to Woman – written testimony
Wanted support of programs for women who are being released from prison. She has designed a two-year curriculum for re-access to the community, which includes transitional housing.

12. Jackie Doig – Center for Civil Justice – written testimony
Explained that center seeks to achieve systemic change to increase opportunities and better the lives of low income clients. They are concerned about assuring access to health care, and the critical role that a strong Medicaid program plays in protecting women’s health.

13. Kate White – Elder Law of Michigan – written testimony
Stated that Elder Law of Michigan is an organization that promotes and protects the rights of senior citizens. Concerned by the increased number of self-reported incidents of older women going without food to pay for medicine for chronic health conditions. Urged expansion of MI CAFÉ (Michigan Coordinates Access to Food for the Elderly) program to more counties in Michigan. Pilot programs have been very successful.

14. Jody Jones, M.D. – Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health – written testimony
Concerned about infant mortality. Supported the following initiatives: passing contraceptive equity legislation; extending family planning coverage to women without insurance whose income is at or below 185% of poverty; providing comprehensive health education for women; maintaining current funding levels of health care for women in the Medicaid and Mi Child programs; expanding opportunities for maternal and infant support services; expanding infant mental health and parenting programs; aligning TANF policies with parenting roles; addressing reimbursement rates for high-risk OB care; enacting medical liability reform; funding public education programs about breastfeeding, smoking cessation, nutrition and exercise; and expanding Child Death and Fetal Infant Mortality Review programs.

15. Peggy Kahn – Coalition for Independence Through Education – written testimony
Recommended removing barriers to post-secondary education for low-income mothers. In its TANF rules, Michigan counts education as part of the forty-hour work requirement only under very limited circumstances: the last year of a 2-year or 4-year degree program, if approved by Work First agencies. Other states count hours spent in educational activity towards work requirements, without such limitations. Wanted the Women’s Commission to encourage FIA, DLEG, and other state agencies to take measures to connect low-income parents to higher education opportunities and to endorse the pilot program, Parents as Scholars, which removes the restrictive TANF work requirements.

16. Elizabeth Homer – National Organization for Women, Education Task Force – written testimony
Michigan’s K-12 core curriculum, approved in 1995, does not include the role, contributions and history of women in the social studies standards. Proposed the standards could be changed, by executive order, to read as follows:
SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARD
The board of a school district shall provide a social studies curriculum and instructional program which will enable all students to understand the role in history of American women and their historic contributions to the growth and strength of our Nation.

17. Kimberli Cumming – The Women’s Center of America – written testimony
Stated that the Women’s Center is dedicated to economic and emotional self-determination of women and girls, their partners and their families. This year the center received $36,000 in displaced homemaker funding and is concerned this funding may be cut or eliminated. Encouraged support of the displaced homemakers program.

18. Gwen Hoople – Michigan Federation of Business and Professional Women – written testimony
Addressed the BPW platform issue, supporting freedom of choice for women. She urges the Michigan Women’s Commission to be an advocate for women. She recently became a U.S. citizen and urged us all to use our voices and votes to further women’s causes.

19. Rhonda Muscat - individual
Concerned about women’s rights, especially lesbian rights. Women who are lesbians don’t have the same right as other women to marry, and benefit from tax and other advantages. The marriage ban, higher taxes for unmarried individuals, and lack of health benefits for partners are all discriminatory. MWC should support rights for lesbians.

20. Laleah Fernandez - Parent Education Opportunity Coalition, MSU – written testimony
Supported changes in higher education to assist women with children. Current welfare and departmental practices serve as barriers for post-secondary education. She recommends: implementing organizational changes at FIA to emphasize the importance of education, having one FIA expert/team work with clients involving education matters; developing methods that actively encourage universities to assist student parents, including formal position statements supporting student parents; and promoting affordable quality child care and other supportive services. She is concerned that the hours for legal aid services do not meet the needs of student parents.

21. Lee Kwiatkowski – written letter sent to the commission
Wrote to support “health care for Michigan women whether they have insurance or not.”

22. Tina Jmit – written letter sent to the commission
Wrote to the commission to support more jobs that allow part-time work or flex-time employment and public education.

23. Unnamed – written letter sent to the commission
Wrote to the commission to highlight the issue of social security and the unfair “10 year married” clause, that leads to poverty for many divorced older women.

24. Mary Fernandez Garcia – written letter sent to the commission
Wrote to the commission to say as long as the war in Iraq continues to drain our economy there is no future for our children.

25. J.A. – written letter send to the commission
Wrote to the commission to highlight that banning pornography endangers women, as such a ban rejects the principle of “a woman’s body, a woman’s right.”

12/15/2004