A version of this column originally appeared in Michigan Advance.
Every Michigander deserves a fair shot at opportunity and prosperity. But for too long, many families—particularly people of color and those families with low incomes—have struggled to make ends meet despite their best efforts to provide for their families. President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan would make a historic investment in Michiganders, lowering costs for housing, child care, food and healthcare—all of which make it easier for us to work and take care of our families.
And this important opportunity came with an important visit this week, as President Biden spoke in Howell to advocate for the Build Back Better bill to improve the lives of workers and children with proven effective policies to expand opportunity and reduce poverty.
The Data
As President Biden continues to advocate for the Build Back Better plan, and continues to work with Michigan’s congressional delegation to get it done, here are some important statistics on the many benefits Build Back Better would have on our fellow Michiganders.
Over 1.9 million kids in Michigan—roughly 90% of all children in our state—would benefit from an extension of the American Rescue Plan’s Child Tax Credit. Particularly critical is a provision that makes the full credit available to the kids who need it most: children in families with little to no earnings.
An estimated 47,000 Michiganders with low incomes would be able to afford stable housing with the proposed expansion of Housing Choice Vouchers, making it easier for residents to get and keep a job and climb the economic ladder, ensuring that many children have stable housing and sharply reducing homelessness.
838,000 Michigan kids won’t go hungry in the summer when they can’t get meals at school.
The bottom 95% of Michigan earners would see lower taxes, while the top 1% (those with incomes over half a million dollars) would pay more.
Michigan families at 135% of the state median income stand to save an average of $112 a week and almost $6,000 a year with investments in child care and preschool. These federal child care investments will also help improve racial equity.
The Voices
These numbers are certainly important, but it’s equally important to remember that each one of those data points represents a real Michigan child, worker or household. At the League, we always say that combining data and personal stories is a winning advocacy formula, and it’s just as true with BBB. That’s why I was so glad to be part of a press conference on Oct. 7 to lift up a variety of Michigan voices and perspectives joining together with a common call: the passage of the Build Back Better plan.
I was proud to be joined by Tameka Ramsey, co-director of Michigan Voices and a participant in the League’s Advocacy Boot Camp, who spoke about her experiences as a policy advocate, parent and grandparent. Tameka shared how important the increased Child Tax Credit has been for her and her kids and grandkids, and the need to make those changes permanent. She also emphasized the importance of the need to help make child care more accessible and affordable for all parents.
Tameka’s thoughts on the Child Tax Credit were reinforced by David Reyes, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Director at the Capital Area United Way, who also echoed the benefits of—and need to also make permanent in BBB—the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit. Other participants and points of emphasis included: Andrea Acevedo, Healthcare President for the Service Employees International Union, discussing health needs and home and community-based care; Conan Smith, CEO for the Michigan Environmental Council, talking about efforts to combat climate change; and Dr. Farhan Bhatti, the director of Care Free Medical, lifting up proposals to reduce healthcare costs.
The Action
The Build Back Better plan would make a historic investment in Michiganders, lowering costs for housing, child care, food and healthcare—all of which make it easier for us to work and take care of our families. And it would pay for all or most of those investments by closing tax loopholes for the wealthy and corporations and without raising taxes on anyone with income under $400,000.
That’s a great deal for Michigan.
Build Back Better is the President’s plan, so we know he is there. The data is there. And the voices of Michigan advocates and the people we serve are there. And we trust our congressional delegation will keep working to support Michigan residents and their families and pass the full proposed Build Back Better plan.
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.
