Lansing – The Michigan Senate Democrats today slammed the budgets being passed by their Republican colleagues over the past week for continuing their ongoing trend of favoring corporations at the expense of investing in Michigan's schools, communities and working families.

LANSING - Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer and members of the Senate Democratic Caucus announced that voting has begun today for the 2013 #mi2020 Scholarship Competition at www.michigan2020.com/competition. Current Michigan high school seniors from around the state have submitted passionate and thought-provoking videos that explain why Michigan needs to enact the Senate Democrats’ Michigan 2020 Plan to offer free college tuition to all students.

The Michigan Senate Democrats released a statement today expressing their united opposition to the current efforts to reform Michigan's no-fault auto insurance system being pushed by Representative Pete Lund (R-Shelby Township). Governor Rick Snyder, Representative Lund and insurance companies introduced legislation recently that would cap claims at $1 million while offering little relief to Michigan drivers and with no regard for the ongoing care of injured motorists.

Lansing – Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer sharply criticized Governor Snyder’s administration today for raiding the funds of the Detroit Public School System to hand $6 million over to his failing Education Achievement Authority in a desperate attempt to cover up the EAA’s inability to function as promised by the administration.

DETROIT – Local members of the Senate Democratic Caucus were joined today by Detroit-area tax experts and working families to discuss the devastating effects of the recent tax increases passed by the Republican-led Legislature and signed by Governor Snyder. With the implementation of the Pension Tax, cuts to tax credits such as the Homestead Property Tax Credit and the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit and the elimination of the child, senior and other deductions, many Michigan families and seniors have been struck hard by a major increase in their taxes.

FLINT, MICH. – Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing), Representative Jim Ananich (D-Flint) and Genesee County Treasurer Deb Cherry were joined today by Flint-area tax experts and working families to discuss the devastating effects of the recent tax increases passed by the Republican-led Legislature and signed by Governor Snyder. With the implementation of the Pension Tax, cuts to tax credits such as the Homestead Property Tax Credit and the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit and the elimination of the child, senior and other deductions, many Michigan families and seniors have been struck hard by a major increase in their taxes.

Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) and members of the Senate Democratic Caucus were joined today by tax experts and working families to discuss the devastating effects of the recent tax increases passed by the Republican-led Legislature and signed by Governor Snyder. With the implementation of the Pension Tax, cuts to tax credits such as the Homestead Property Tax Credit and the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit and the elimination of the child, senior and other deductions, many Michigan families and seniors have been struck hard by a major increase in their taxes.

enator Bert Johnson (D-Detroit) called legislation introduced by Representative Lisa Posthumus Lyons today to expand the authority of the Governor's Education Achievement Authority (EAA) offensively hypocritical. Johnson pointed out that while Rep. Lyons' praised the supposed success of the EAA as a reason to expand its' authority statewide, the legislation she introduced specifically allows the Grand Rapids Schools to be exempted from the EAA's reach.

LANSING - Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer and members of the Senate Democratic Caucus announced the return of their successful #mi2020 Scholarship Competition today that will award up to $10,000 to one Michigan high school senior graduating this spring. To enter, students are asked to submit a short web video at www.michigan2020.com/competition that explains why Michigan needs to enact the Senate Democrats' Michigan 2020 Plan to offer free college tuition to all students.

Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer along with members of the Senate Democratic Caucus reintroduced the Michigan 2020 Plan today and said that passing it would be their highest legislative priority in 2013. Under the plan, originally introduced last year, Michigan high school graduates would be eligible to have tuition and associated costs paid for in their entirety at one of Michigan’s community colleges or public universities. Since its initial introduction, the Michigan 2020 Plan has received widespread support from a variety of stakeholders, including business leaders, economic experts, educators, parents and students. After receiving a Senate hearing on the legislation last year, people from around the state are eager to see the bill passed this year.