Michigan spends about $5.6 billion on social welfare programs a year, and that doesn't include health care.
Even though that's only about 10% of the state's total budget, our passions and our politics are very much at work when we talk about these programs.
In this hour-long special, we uncover why we get so emotional about social welfare spending. Do these emotions keep us from having policies and programs that would actually help families in Michigan get ahead?
Policy and poverty expert Kristin Seefeldt serves as our guide for the special. She and Jennifer White, along with other experts and members of the State of Opportunity team, explore what's going on with Michigan's social welfare programs. We look at recent efforts to raise the minimum wage, expand preschool, and cut off welfare benefits from families with kids who are truant from school. You'll hear from real people about what really works to help low-income families climb the economic ladder.
This is one of those specials you'll want to listen to in one sitting: