Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on April 18, 2007, to authorize state grants to community-based programs designed to foster positive parenting skills for parents of children under three years of age; improve parent and child interaction; promote access to “needed community services”; increase local capacity to serve families at risk; improve school readiness; support healthy family environments that discourage alcohol, tobacco, and drug use. The bill does not specify how these ends would be accomplished by the government-funded or government programs that receive the grants

The vote was 85 in favor, 24 opposed and 1 not voting

(House Roll Call 460 at House Journal 106)

Click here to view bill details.

I would support this proposal because it supports educating families of children 3 years and younger. At this time Michigan does not have enough programs that offer this type of support. A three year old (and younger children) have so much brain development going on during these crutial years- it's in Michigan's best interest to 'get the word out' and support those most influential in the development of our youngest citizens. It is necessary to establish the terms of this support and follow through with some accountability of use of funds.

Where are you going to get the money? This state is broke! Even if we had the money, who decides which programs? What is the accountability? What are the performance measures? Will this establish a new bureaucracy or use existing, successful organizations? Faith based or only government run? It sounds nice, but only a fraction of the money would make it down to the kids.

What would be enough? The never-ending, bottomless need chasing the fixed reality of sources.

This is a good program. I certainly hope there's strong language to suggest a true collaboration with other early childhood programs, such as Early On, sp. ed., Head Start, etc. to avoid duplication of effort.

wants to start indoctrinating your children at an earlier age. It seems that some of us parents are getting their values instilled into their kids before they get sent off to the public indoctrination centers so the state needs to start sooner. "[State-run] education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed." --Joseph Stalin "Let me control the textbooks and I will control the state." -- Adolph Hitler

liberal democrat. how about we have a true collaboration between parents to assure that FAMILY VALUES, not GOVERNMENT VALUES are instilled in their children.

I hope the Early Childhood Educator does not teach spelling. This is the land of diversity, why would we want to teach everyone to behave and think the way the governement wants? Wake up Republicans!

0-3 window of opportunity is SO IMPORTANT to get right. Preaching to parents, though, about things that are LEGAL like smoking and drinking seems a bit much. Perhaps they could show parents how much money invested, saved over time that some people spend on smoking and drinking could be better used toward college educations for their children. Put it on a graph and show them, help them to make a better choice.

I'll try proofreading more carefully. Thanks for your feedback:)

Where will the money for this silly, feel good program come from?

Brenda Clack definitely needs a wakeup call about what children need. Children need a BALANCED diet of both a mother and father, not community service programs. Right now Brenda Clack has the power to save the state millions by bringing up and support House Bill 4564 (Michigan's Equal Parenting Bill) so that the community will no longer have to raise children where there are two fit, loving, and caring parents that live within the same school district as their children. Urge Brenda Clack to work for families and more importantly children and instead of passing bills on that COST taxpayers, pass bills that reduce the need for taxpayer expense through government programs.

If Brenda Clack spent as much time actually looking into her constituency and recognizing the problems of her community as she does styling her hair, she just might understand that she is a major player in the sale of our children. BRENDA- why don't we just set up shop at the hospital and pay the parents for delivery and send the children to your special interest programs from birth and return them to their parents after they reach 21. It seems that the state has a better idea of raising and caring for children then the families that they belong to. Do us all a favor Rep. Clack....Tommorrow instead of doing that lovly coif spend some time visiting the families in your community.

She's got it all.

Great idea. Proactive.

Children don't come with a manual. Frankly, some people just SHOULDN'T have children, BUT by golly once they're here, there's no sending them back, and I'd like to see parents whether their pregnancy was planned or not have a good shot helping their children become healthy productive citizens in the future with the best that research has to offer on early parenting. BEST PRACTICE IN PARENTING. There's a real trick to this releasing a child's true potential from ages 0-3 and 0-5. Let's not keep it a secret and share it with the families that need it the MOST. Or is it more FUN to just complain about people being LOSER parents and look down our noses at them. Gosh, what would happen if we didn't have someone to be BETTER than in this society. I hear a lot of complaining in posts about people sucking off the government, but I'm not sure that those same posters would TRULY be any happier if those folks did get their acts together. This bill would help families have a better opportunity for success and PREVENT a number of problems that cost the taxpayers EVEN MORE down the road. It's preventative legislation, and it makes TOTAL SENSE to me. It is good LEADERSHIP. I think Brenda IS looking at her constituents. I think she KNOWS that her constituents are NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WITH THE STRONGEST VOICE and the MOST FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS. She is a leader of the PEOPLE, not just the voters with the MOST POWER. Perhaps she won't get re-elected by introducing such legislation, but it is definitely the right thing to do. I think we need more LEADERS like this. THE RIGHT THING TO DO. How refreshing. It prevents futher cost down the road in our state's future. My grandma swears up and down we are blood relatives of Gerald Ford (born a King,) and I for one think this legislation is FABULOUS. It has my FULL support as an educator. It's time to stop judging and help provide elements of success from a young age. OR IS IT JUST MORE FUN TO JUDGE?

Children don't come with a manual. [no... brilliant observation there, einstein]Frankly, some people just SHOULDN'T have children, [you mean like the people who have children who also have no clue about how to raise them?] BUT by golly once they're here, there's no sending them back, [just PARTIAL BIRTH ABORT them] and I'd like to see parents whether their pregnancy was planned or not have a good shot helping their children become healthy productive citizens in the future with the best that research has to offer on early parenting. [you can't even mandate that every student in michigan can COMPREHEND the best research has to offer, much less make effective use of it.] BEST PRACTICE IN PARENTING. [who's best practice in parenting. it seems that all the best practices in parenting that have worked for thousands of years are now considered cruel and unusual punishment] There's a real trick to this releasing a child's true potential from ages 0-3 and 0-5. [there isn't a whole lot of POTENTIAL being released when the kid is going through the 'TERRIBLE TWOS'] Let's not keep it a secret and share it with the families that need it the MOST. [there again, we have a problem, the girl who doesn't know the name of the biological father is expected to know how to raise her kids to become self respecting individuals.] Or is it more FUN to just complain about people being LOSER parents and look down our noses at them. [it's not fun having to foot the bill for their stupidity, but the alternative is government mandated sterilization.] Gosh, what would happen if we didn't have someone to be BETTER than in this society. [communism. THAT'S what it's called when we are all EQUAL, and even in communism, some are MORE EQUAL than others.] I hear a lot of complaining in posts about people sucking off the government, but I'm not sure that those same posters would TRULY be any happier if those folks did get their acts together. [that is a wonderfully assinine assumption.] This bill would help families have a better opportunity for success and PREVENT a number of problems that cost the taxpayers EVEN MORE down the road. [how so? you never explain this. what gives you that idea?] It's preventative legislation, and it makes TOTAL SENSE to me. [it's tough to determine from this post what makes total sense to you, you haven't made any of it yet.] It is good LEADERSHIP. [you think that by taking someone by the hand and directing their every move, you have accomplished leadership??? remember the little saying about horses and water.] I think Brenda IS looking at her constituents. [yes, she is, and she is looking to see what she has to give them to get re-elected.] I think she KNOWS that her constituents are NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WITH THE STRONGEST VOICE and the MOST FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS. [so she IGNORES THOSE and panders to the ones with the MOST VOTES.] She is a leader of the PEOPLE, [yes, but WHERE is she leading them?] not just the voters with the MOST POWER. [the voters with the most power are the voters with the most numbers of votes. they have voted consistently to give themselves, through this woman, a bigger and bigger slice of the treasury.] Perhaps she won't get re-elected by introducing such legislation, but it is definitely the right thing to do. [you have a strange notion of right and wrong.] I think we need more LEADERS like this. [finish your sentence...you think that the people of michigan NEED more LEADERS like this woman because they are INCAPABLE OF LEADING THEMSELVES.] THE RIGHT THING TO DO. How refreshing. It prevents futher cost down the road in our state's future. My grandma swears up and down we are blood relatives of Gerald Ford (born a King,) and I for one think this legislation is FABULOUS. [so, being related to Gerald Ford makes your opinion better? would Gerald Ford supported this bill?] It has my FULL support as an educator. It's time to stop judging and help provide elements of success from a young age. [you mean that you, as an educator, HAVE NOT been providing elements of success to all your students from a young age?] OR IS IT JUST MORE FUN TO JUDGE? [teacher, if you are one, if you rant in front of your class like you rant here, NO WONDER your students haven't been provided the elements of success.]

In the state of the economy in MI, we currently have alot of unemployed people. Many have run out of benefits and now have ALL of their bills paid, food stamps provided, mortgage paid and receive child support. Some are even working for cash so that they remain "under the wire" and can have the luxury of haveing all expenses paid by those fortunate enough to have a job. Brenda needs to rethink this. There are many families out there who are paying most of their household income to dead beat custodial parents while they would love a chance to be a consistant part of their child's life. They have the means of prividing for the child (ren) yet the courts are not passing equal parenting laws. Lets get these equal parenting laws enacted first. There are already many communities and schools that assist young families that need parenting help. Michigan does not have this slush fund to pay for pet projects. Lets's focus on the important issues and enact laws for those first. Priorities, please.

We have 2 kids, ages 2 & 4 months. My 2 year old already knows her ABC's, can count to 15 (at least), recognizes most shapes (including trapazoids), most colors, is bilingual (english & sign langauge) and loves any form of learning. She plays with friends frequently and loves to socialize. I have a waiting group of babies for my 4 month old to play with. I just don't see any benefit to this bill. It is pure waste. I don't need the government spending my money to tell me how to raise my children. If they want to assist me in raising my kids (no thanks!), then don't take so much in taxes. That would help a lot!

Brenda, I am very concerned about our govt. spending more of the taxpayers money on Parenting Skills as I feel with the problems in balancing the budget we need to be a little careful on how we are spending our money. My suggestion is that it would make more sence to educate our young adults in High School in a health, gym or homec class to teach our future parents these skills as part of their education. thank you for your time.

Dear Representative Clack, I hope you will stand behind the Family package of bills that includes your initiative. These bills were sitting on the Governors desk, overwhelmingly passed, and the Governor vetoed. Horray for your effort here. DADS of Michigan PAc

If the love of their children isn't enough to encourage them to be good parents, then offering them FREE programs will be even less motivating...The only way to coerce these people into changed behavior is to encumber the government benefits they receive unless they attend...and even then, you won't have a receptive audience. And I SURE HOPE no one is proposing PAYING them to attend these programs!!!! What's the saying -- "There are none so blind as those who will not see...", well "There are none so deaf as those who will not HEAR!" There are ENOUGH social programs available in local communities -- community centers, churches, FIA programs, etc. -- to provide support and guidance who WANT to improve their parenting skills. Those who don't, won't. Please vote no to HB4607.

You can introduce something of this nature but set on the house bill that automatically grants joint physical and legal custody to BOTH parents without touching support...? Give me a break. And I agree 150% that there are enough programs out there for parental guidance that we don't need a barage more paid for and funded by the state of Michigan's taxpayers out of the general fund. This is crap...try acting on HB4564 and see how many problems are resolved by giving BOTH parents the right to parent their babies/kids. Geesh...what a load of crap.

The one good thing about Brenda Clack is this is she is now going to term out thank GOD. She should have lived in Nazi Germany she would have been a great help to Hitler. She thinks the Government should be raising all of our children. I really wonder how on earth I was able to raise all 8 of my children into productive tax paying upstanding citizens with out the state telling me how to do it. Yup kids don't come with an operators manual but who the ell taught the people who are going to are going to tell us how our children should be raised. Who wrote their manuals. Kid do not come out of a cookie cutter they are all unique and different and therefore they can be no manual. Try plan old common sense when raising children. OH my bad I forgot common sense died some time ago. vote this very expensive bad legislation down.

Who are we kidding. Look at this states history. Kids are far more likely too die while under state care than under the care of their parents, why would we want someone with such a dismal record of parental skills teaching US how to raise our children.

If she truly cared she would stop sitting on all of the joint custody by default bills out there. She sits on them as most of the members of her district are lower income levels and live off of welfare/child support/and other IVD programs. She would rather cater to people who choose not to work in order to keep her "job" rather than do the right thing. If she would pass laws that allowed equal time with both parents and stoped bankrupting loving parents who have the wrong sex organs that would do MUCH more than taking more state dollars and giving them to people who are lazy to begin with.