FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2024
Contact:
Laura Millard Ross
lauramr@mlpp.org
(517) 281-1084
Gov. Whitmer’s budget centers needs of children and families, several key investments target alleviating poverty in Michigan
Budget proposal contains many League priorities, including TANF reform, support for child care providers, a summer EBT program, equity-focused school investments and more
LANSING—The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement today on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Fiscal Year 2024-25 State Budget presentation. The statement can be attributed to League President and CEO Monique Stanton.
“For more than 11 decades and counting, the Michigan League for Public Policy has advocated for state investments that result in meaningful, transformational change for the people who call Michigan home, especially those who have faced barriers to prosperity and struggle on a daily basis to make ends meet. Today, we are applauding many of the people-centered, values-based priorities that Gov. Whitmer outlined in her budget proposal for the coming fiscal year as they align with many of our budget priorities.
“Right now, Michigan has the 13th highest poverty rate in the nation, and our cash assistance program has been failing to meet the needs of the kids and families who rely on it. The governor’s proposal to increase the payment amount for families will make the Family Independence Program (FIP) more effective. The governor’s move to reform how the state spends its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding by shifting dollars for scholarships—which often serve middle-class and even affluent families—to FIP will help target assistance to the families who need it most. The League has long advocated for a shift of TANF dollars to the FIP program—TANF is meant to support families with low incomes, and families can’t get by on the FIP’s current outdated payment standard, which has been stagnant for decades.
“We are also applauding the governor’s proposals to further support Michigan’s child care providers, including a 10% ongoing rate increase and free child care for child care workers’ children. Child care providers are a critical component of our state’s workforce and as COVID aid has fallen away, we must continue to look at ways to support these essential caregivers and get back to full pandemic-era funding. By supporting and stabilizing the early child care workforce, we can, in turn, help to make child care more accessible for working families, improve outcomes for our youngest residents and ensure our state economy remains healthy.
“We know that access to nutritious foods is vital for growing kids, and the governor’s proposal to continue the federal summer EBT program through state investment could help around 900,000 Michigan students stay healthy and strong in the summer months. We also approve of the governor’s plan to continue to provide universal school meals to the nearly 1.4 million school children across our state that have benefited from that program. Ensuring Michigan kids are getting the nutritious food they need year-round is fundamental to their development and success in school.
“When it comes to education, the governor’s push to continue targeting funding to the schools and students who need it most is absolutely essential when it comes to student success. And the investments in Michigan Reconnect and the Michigan Achievement Scholarship’s new proposed ‘Michigan College Guarantee’ will give a boost to people who’ve faced barriers to education after high school.
“Along with these important supports, we were also pleased to see that many other long-time priorities of the League and the communities we work with were addressed in the governor’s proposal. Funding for doula services and other healthcare will improve outcomes for maternal and infant health, and the proposed zero-dollar premiums for MI Child would help families save money and ensure that more kids are enrolled. We also applaud the additional funding to provide emergency cash assistance for relocation, homeownership, utilities and deposits, and home repairs. This investment is critical for Michiganders trying to make ends meet—and would help make sure folks can stay in their homes.
“Bold action is needed now to support children, families and workers in our state, especially given that poverty is on the rise in more than half of Michigan’s counties. The governor’s budget provides a beacon of hope for Michiganders who are struggling, and we urge the Michigan Legislature to follow her lead.”
Background
The Michigan League for Public Policy has developed its overview of The People’s Budget, which features the League’s priorities for the Fiscal Year 2024-25 State Budget. The People’s Budget is shaped by data and research as well as input from community members, service providers and advocates. The People’s Budget prioritizes investments that will improve outcomes for the people of Michigan who struggle to make ends meet. Many of these investments align with Gov. Whitmer’s budget priorities.
In 2024, the League will also focus on policy priorities related to the creation of a statewide paid family and medical leave policy, an expansion of the state Earned Income Tax Credit to reach workers who are currently left out, and the development of a state-level Child Tax Credit. The League is also exploring the potential of Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) programs to help lift Michiganders out of poverty.
###
The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on opportunity for all. Its mission is to advance economic security, racial equity, health and well-being for all people in Michigan through policy change. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.
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.
