A version of this column originally appeared in The Alpena News.
After a long December, it’s officially a new year, and I think we’re all joining the Counting Crows in hoping that maybe this year will be better than the last. But with it also being an election year, will Michigan’s Democratic governor and Republican-led Legislature be able to work together on some positive and historic investments with the billions of dollars in federal funding currently at their disposal?
It may seem like a long shot, but if the way 2021 ended in the Capitol is any indication, bipartisanship, common ground and compromise can be found. The Legislature and governor worked together to negotiate and pass nearly $1 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan to help support Michigan’s families, communities, and small businesses during the ongoing health crisis, including: $150 million for COVID school testing, $140 million for rental assistance, and $36.3 million to help communities tackle lead, fund water distribution, inspections, blood testing, and more.
The governor and Legislature also acted swiftly last month to pass $1 billion for a new job-creation incentives fund aimed at recruiting and retaining auto manufacturers and other critical industries and making big industrial sites shovel-ready for construction. But while corporate subsidies continue to get the most attention from policymakers, there are many other things that corporations—and the workers and consumers who sustain them—depend on and desire.
As the League and some of our partners recently wrote about this latest effort, “Everyone in Michigan wants a strong recovery from the pandemic that includes better jobs and wages, healthier communities, and a thriving future. We believe that instead of just more corporate incentives, providing robust educational opportunities, making transportation more reliable and sustainable, ensuring our water is safe, supporting families, and providing better social and built infrastructure pays off.”
The governor and Legislature were able to find common ground to address some needs of some Michigan businesses. There’s already been widespread bipartisan support for business subsidies. There should be equally widespread and bipartisan support for the investments to help people and workers, and we hope our policymakers can maintain that same urgency and commitment on additional spending of state ARPA dollars. And luckily, the governor already has a proposal that’s “shovel-ready” and will have a significant, positive impact on Michigan’s people and businesses: The MI New Economy Plan.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unveiled her $2.1 billion MI New Economy plan at the Mackinac Policy Conference in September, and it contains some of the Michigan League for Public Policy’s key priorities.
As ways to reduce poverty and support racial and economic equity, we have and continue to be supportive of Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners to help workers pursue better opportunities and ways to make child care more affordable for families while supporting child care workers and providers as well. These proposals are particularly relevant to rural communities and Alpena area residents, as are MI New Economy’s proposed investments in expanding broadband internet access and providing affordable housing.
State lawmakers have already shown that they can put political differences aside when the economy is at stake. And thanks to the federal American Rescue Plan Act, our elected officials already have billions of dollars in hand to address our state’s needs–they just need to keep finding agreement on what to do with it.
In our households and at our jobs, good things always happen when we work together, and the same continues to be true in our State Capitol. MI New Economy provides an historic opportunity to make some major improvements around the state. As such, it should be the next area of bipartisan agreement and the next phase of the state’s economic development efforts—investing money in our people as much as our businesses. MI New Economy provides the blueprint for a better Michigan for all, and it should be a top policy priority in the new year.
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.
