Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall announced his opposition to additional state funding for Rx Kids, a maternal cash assistance program, just as the initiative expands to Detroit.
“They have got a lot of money, and I don’t think we should fund it anymore,” said Hall, a Republican from Richland Township. He expressed concerns about the program’s lack of spending restrictions, noting that recipients “can spend it on drugs and alcohol instead of formula.”
The clash comes as Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal includes $20 million in additional funding for the program.
Currently, nearly $270 million is allocated in the state budget for prenatal and infant cash-assistance programs, which will help fund Rx Kids for the next few years.
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield highlighted the program’s importance during its city launch last week.
“Too many of our babies are starting life early, carrying the weight of financial hardship before they even take their first steps,” Sheffield said.
Rx Kids, which began in Flint in 2024, provides expecting mothers with $1,500 and subsequent monthly payments of $500 for their baby’s first year.
The program operates without restrictions on how recipients can use the funds and has expanded to several Michigan communities, including Pontiac, Dearborn, and Ypsilanti.
Dr. Mona Hanna, founder and director of Rx Kids, defended the program’s bipartisan nature.
“Rx Kids isn’t a partisan idea,” Hanna said in a statement. “Since its launch in 2024, the Legislature has included Rx Kids funding in three consecutive state budgets.” She warned that “backing away now would threaten momentum.”
Governor Whitmer’s office strongly supports the program’s continuation.
“Governor Whitmer is proud to support Rx Kids, a program giving moms and babies from Detroit to the Upper Peninsula the support they need to thrive, improving health outcomes and reducing child poverty,” said Stacey LaRouche, Whitmer’s Press Secretary.
LaRouche added that the program aligns with Whitmer’s broader initiatives to support Michigan families, including pre-K for all, free school meals, and tuition-free paths to higher education.
Program officials said about 80% of their funding comes from the state. They also said most participants use the money for baby supplies, housing, and utilities.