Michigan House speaker questions $300M Rx Kids cash aid program
House Speaker Matt Hall says the state-funded Rx Kids program has turned into a broad guaranteed-income experiment, not the maternal-health aid lawmakers approved.
Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall accused Democratic leaders of repurposing the Rx Kids initiative into a wide-reaching guaranteed-income trial, diverging from the original maternal-health promise. The program, which began in Flint in 2024, provides a $1,500 one-time payment during pregnancy and $500 each month after birth, now financed with more than $300 million of taxpayer dollars. Hall highlighted that Rx Kids lacks the eligibility checks typical of Medicaid, food stamps or WIC, noting payments have gone to individuals without legal U.S. status.
He also claimed caseworkers have observed funds being used for alcohol, drugs and gambling, and pointed to advisory board members linked to progressive Democrats. The speaker said the new state budget omits additional funding for Rx Kids and called for stricter safeguards to ensure aid reaches those truly in need.
Why it matters
It raises questions about how public money is used for cash-transfer programs and the oversight of eligibility criteria.
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