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Members of the Michigan House Democrats' Women's Health and Economic Security Task Force, led by co-chairs Reps. Marcia Hovey-Wright (D-Muskegon) and Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), presented their policy initiatives to improve workplace equity, access to women's health care and to make it easier for families to care for their children and aging parents at a press conference at the state Capitol today. The policy proposals are the result of suggestions made by the public at town hall-style meetings held across the state this summer, as well as some proposals already introduced by House Democrats this legislative session.

Workplace Equity
· Prohibit employers from providing unequal compensation for work of comparable value on the basis of sex (HB 4518 - Rep. Gretchen Driskell)
· Prohibit workplace discrimination based on reproductive health decisions
· Encourage girls and young women to pursue careers in math and science
Access to Health Care
· Urge the state to address inequities in the prevention, treatment and research of diseases threatening women (HR 138 - Rep. Winnie Brinks)
· Require doctors to give women information on dense breast tissue, which is associated with a higher risk for cancer, and encourage those women to consider other screening options (HB 4260 - Rep. Brinks)
· Enact mental health parity by ensuring state policies grant access to mental health care
Child and Elder Care
· Create a state income tax credit to defray the cost of child or dependent care expenses (HB 4005 - Rep. Dian Slavens)
· Restore the $600 per-child tax deduction (HB 4562 - Rep. Brinks)
· Help seniors stay at home by expanding funding for Medicaid waivers that allow seniors to receive care at home, rather than moving to a nursing home.

For More Information Visit: www.housedemtaskforces.com

Amendment to SB 652 would disallow joinder of claims for state employees that are outside the scope of employment.
House Democrats today decried Senate Bill 652, a proposal that would restructure the Michigan Court of Claims in a way that allows a political party in power to hand-pick the judges who hear cases against the state. By stacking the courts in their favor, Republicans who dominate all three branches of the government would be able to quickly pass controversial laws, obtain a governor's signature and put them into effect without constitutional concerns receiving a hearing before a judge or jury. The bill was voted out of the House Government Operations Committee today and advanced to its second reading in the House. House Democrats offered amendments to ensure citizens access to the courts, save taxpayer money and protect the constitutional right to have a trial by jury, but House Republicans rejected them.

Rep. Jeff Irwin speaks in opposition to HB 4465 which amends the Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC) standards.

Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright and Rep. Jeff Irwin introduce talk about the focus and purpose of the House Democrats Women's Health and Economic Security Task Force.