A version of this column appeared in Michigan Advance on Feb. 1
Bipartisanship might not feel very plausible right now. But even after the “horrible year” our state and our nation have endured, including deep-seated and violent political division and outright insurrection over the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 presidential election, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer still chose to strike a chord of accord in her 2021 State of the State address last week.
A more intrepid listener than I counted the word “bipartisan” a dozen times and “common ground” four times in the speech. The governor talked about focusing on what unites us and the need to work together to “fix the damn road ahead.”
This was not just a main theme of the speech or the name of a tour she will be launching to engage with residents around the state—it was also an appeal to the Republican-led Michigan Legislature. And a lot of the speech focused on what the Legislature and governor were able to accomplish when they worked together, including many policies to help more Michiganders find work.
Many of these bipartisan wins were also top priorities for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and we were proud to work with the Legislature and governor alike to help open more doors to opportunity for all state residents. You see, bipartisanship really can have significant payoffs.
These bipartisan efforts will help rural, urban and suburban Michigan workers get a better job and build a better life. This includes eliminating hurdles for workers, as the Clean Slate criminal record expungement bills did last year, as well as offering stepping stones for workers to reach better opportunities with programs like Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners. These policies and programs are part of a larger effort to not just get more Michiganders working, but to get them good-paying, stable careers and provide more opportunities to Black and brown workers and workers with lower incomes in the process.
These were silver linings to come out of a dark time, and they were all achieved with bipartisan “purple” power. But much more is needed, and it will take even more political cooperation and negotiation to make it happen. Because these are issues residents want—no, demand—their state government to be working on.
As the governor’s State of the State address and the 2021 policy agendas of the House and Senate Republicans acknowledge, first and foremost, we need to curb the spread of COVID-19 in order to help workers and businesses alike get through this health and economic emergency. The governor’s Michigan COVID Recovery Plan will work to reduce the spread of COVID-19 before and after exposure, using federal funding to ramp up much-needed vaccination distribution, expand COVID-19 testing and tracing, and more. But the Legislature is responsible for allocating federal funding and will have to equally buy in on this plan.
We also echo the governor’s call for a permanent restoration of 26 weeks of state unemployment benefits. The League opposed the shortsighted move to cut six weeks of state unemployment benefits in 2011, and has been advocating for the restoration of those benefits ever since. Currently, over 40 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico all offer a maximum of 26 weeks or more of unemployment benefits.
As we’ve heard from workers around the state and lawmakers from every district over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the need for additional unemployment benefits. But the challenges for unemployed and underemployed workers preceded COVID-19, and sadly will continue even after the pandemic gets under control. There has been bipartisan support for a temporary extension of unemployment benefits, but we need to ensure that an additional six weeks of financial support is permanent and always there.
As a whole, state assistance programs have been beaten up and cut over the last decade, and restoring unemployment is one of many ways that our elected officials can work together to mend Michigan’s frayed safety net. For years, too many Michigan families have been one unexpected crisis away from hardship. And while that used to be a fear on an individual basis, COVID-19 has led to it being experienced globally.
No resident should have to face hunger or homelessness, eviction or foreclosure, unemployment or sickness without help. People can’t afford groceries and other necessities right now, and they certainly can’t afford to have divisive politics derail good policy. Now is when leadership needs to lead.
Last year, we saw that our policymakers could work together when it counted, and they still have the shared power—and shared responsibility—to help families weather this storm. We know that there will never be universal agreement, and negotiations aren’t always pretty. But the needs of all Michiganders must continue to come first.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
