LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Senate Democrats have a novel approach to solving the state’s declining birth rates: paying parents to have babies while at the same time ensuring abortion remains as accessible as drive-thru coffee. The same party that championed enshrining abortion rights into Michigan’s constitution now wants to dish out $7,500 cash payments to families with newborns and even more in additional tax credits.
Paying for pregnancy while promoting abortion.
This latest proposal called “Building Blocks,” announced last Wednesday by seven female Democrats and three men, builds on Flint’s Rx Kids program, which hands out $1,500 to pregnant women and another $500 per month during the baby’s first year. Yes, Democrats are already using the hard- earned tax dollars of Michiganders to pay women to have babies and, at the same time, champion abortion rights so women don’t have to. Now, they want to expand that program across the state.
MORE NEWS: Democratic Michigan Lawmakers, Leaders Call for Release of Terrorist Sympathizer
Under the Building Blocks plan, if you choose to keep the baby, you get cash. If you don’t, well, Democrats already made sure there are no barriers to ending the pregnancy either. It’s all about “choice,” right? According to the Democrat plan, on top of the $7,500 cash payment, families would also get a $5,500 tax credit each year for some families with children under the age of 3. Of course, the numbers could always go up since there is no legislation introduced for this yet.
Michigan Dems suddenly discover that babies have value – after birth.
State Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) lamented that “raising a child – especially a newborn – has become unbearably expensive.” And she’s not wrong. But it’s a little rich coming from the same crew who made sure zero limits on abortion made it into state law. Now, they’re offering financial incentives for births, as if the abortion-first agenda they pushed won’t impact just how many kids ever see that first birthday cake.
Democrats are now arguing that keeping babies alive might be a better long-term investment than aborting them. Quite the realization. Senator Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) said, “If we’re serious about growing our population here in the state of Michigan, we need to get serious about making parents a priority and building on an economy that supports them and their families.”
No price tag reported.
Democrats are mum on the price tag for this grand plan, with Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, brushing off cost concerns, saying that’ll be worked out during budget talks.
While no official price tag has been reported, Michigan News Source crunched the numbers to estimate the potential cost. State data shows there were 97,850 live births in Michigan in 2024. In 2022, about 14.5% of Michigan women lived below the poverty line. If the Democrat proposal applied only to those mothers, each receiving a $18,500 total payout, that would be 14,188 moms – totaling $262.4 million.
Democrats push cash for babies while keeping abortion wide open.
This baby bonus will require Republican buy-in to pass once legislation is introduced and that’s no guarantee with a Republican-led house. Democrats will have to explain exactly how much they are willing to shell out to encourage births while simultaneously fighting tooth and nail to keep Michigan one of the most abortion-friendly states in the country.
MORE NEWS: Michigan Democratic Senator Gary Peters Helps Trump Secure Spending Deal as Progressives Fume
So, what’s the real game here? Democrats are suddenly pushing for more babies in Michigan – but only under their terms. And only if parents really want them – and only if the government gets to swoop in with a check.
To many Michiganders, the proposal is going to seem less focused on supporting family growth and more like an effort to secure votes under the guise of addressing the costs of raising a family. If the Democrats were actually serious about boosting birth rates, maybe they shouldn’t have spent the last two years making it easier than ever to end pregnancies.
With policies like these, it’s no wonder Michigan’s population is in a free fall. When you can’t decide whether to subsidize birth or fund its alternative, you send a pretty mixed message about whether babies are a blessing or a budget line item.
