Back-to-school Cost Increases Due to Republican Tariffs
- 46% to 68% on laptops and tablets
- 40% on shoes and sneakers
- 38% on clothes
- 15% on pens and pencils
- 10% on backpacks
- 10% on notebooks and binders
Overall, tariffs will cost a typical household $2400 this year.
(Sources: The Budget Lab at Yale, uschamber.com and cta.tech)
To make things worse, funding being moved away from categorical universal school meal programs planned by Michigan House Republicans could mean higher grocery bills for hardworking families. Michiganders need relief, not higher prices.
Should Student Cell Phone Use Be Restricted in Public Schools?
On July 24, the House met for its only scheduled day of voting that month and took up House Bill 4141, a bill that would prohibit students from using cell phones or other personal wireless devices unless medically necessary or in special circumstances. While I am concerned about the use of personal cell phones in schools and how they can inhibit learning for minors, I voted against this particular bill for two reasons.
First, I felt the bill did not provide sufficient flexibility for local districts to implement. Local districts and the student populations they serve vary across our state. A similar bill, Senate Bill 234, would still require local districts to implement a policy to restrict the use of cell phones and personal wireless devices; but school districts would be empowered to enact a version that aligns with their specific student needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Second, I am hesitant to enact a piece of legislation that requires public schools to implement new rules when the Legislature failed to pass a full budget by the July 1 deadline, and still hasn’t enacted a full state budget to date. While school districts are having to dip into their rainy day funds to pay bills, we shouldn’t be spending our time on policies that are less urgent than the budget.
The Legislature Has Still Not Successfully Negotiated a Final School Aid Budget
In addition to the uncertainty tariffs are causing during this back-to-school season, the Legislature has still not successfully negotiated and passed a final budget. This failure has left Michigan’s school districts in limbo, forcing schools to cut programs like universal school lunches and to lay off teachers. Negotiating the budget for the state by July 1 is one of the only deadlines of the Legislature that is outlined in the state statute — meaning it is one of our single greatest duties.
With significant cuts looming at the federal level, I believe that the Republican-led House refusing to give schools certainty about what funding they’d have for critical programs like universal free meals, special education, mental health or rural transportation is irresponsible and indefensible.
Michigan kids deserve better. They deserve access to free meals and reliable transportation to school. These services are vital for students to perform better in the long run. I will continue to call on the speaker and Michigan House Republicans to pass a commonsense, comprehensive and bipartisan budget as soon as possible.
While Republicans in Washington and right here in Michigan may be increasing your costs during back-to-school season and beyond, House Dems will keep working to make life more affordable. House Democrats are in your corner. We won’t stop advocating for investments in schools, funding for kids and breathing room for families. |
.png "A graphic from state Representative Stephen Wooden and special guest state Representative Carol Glanville for their upcoming budget town hall on September 15 from 6 to 7:30 PM in the gymnasium of Kent Hills Elementary School, located at 1445 Emerald Avenue Northeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505")
