It’s my thought that Michigan should keep the Promise it made to state college students through the Promise Scholarship regardless of ongoing state budget negotiations. That’s why I introduced legislation to create a state income tax credit for all Promise Grant recipients if their scholarship is reduced or eliminated.
If Lansing finds all of the $140 million dollars, somehow, then my bill is unnecessary. My idea certainly isn’t anybody’s Plan A. This is a back up plan, should all else fail. One way or another, Michigan must keep its promise to students.
Simply put, if the State of Michigan owes you money, you owe nothing to the state. This is actually tax credit created to offset student’s tax liability. The student would carry the credit forward to offset future all future income tax liability.
The credit will continue until students get all of the money they are owed. The proposal has the added benefit of keeping college graduates in the state of Michigan to take advantage of the credit. If a student moves away from Michigan, the money will be waiting for them when they return to our state.
None of my bill is perfect. I’d prefer to not need it at all. The most important thing that I’d like students to know is that Michigan cares deeply in their future and we want their future to include great success here at home.
Let’s keep our promise to the kids who trusted us.
