A version of this column originally appeared in The Alpena News.
As the leader of an organization that has put the people of Michigan at the forefront of our mission since 1912, I was heartened to see that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s state budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2024-25 truly centers Michiganders and their basic needs.
Among the governor’s many people-centered investments, her plan to invest $46 million in improvements to the Family Independence Program (FIP) will make that program more effective in helping Michiganders who have fallen on hard times. Her proposal includes increasing base monthly FIP payments by 35%, increasing young child support payments for children under the age of 6 from $50 to $150 and increasing the eligibility time limit for families from 48 months to 60 months. These are some of the most transformational changes to FIP that we have seen proposed in well over two decades and they come at a critical moment in our state’s history, as we recently learned that Michigan has the 13th highest poverty rate in the nation.
As it stands today, Michigan families with low incomes can’t get by on FIP’s outdated payment standard, which has failed to keep up with inflation and has, therefore, resulted in benefits that have decreased in value from year to year. We applaud the governor for recognizing that it’s time to raise the payment standard and eligibility time limit of this cash assistance program in order to help more Michigan families reach financial stability, including children ages birth to 17 living in households that are below the poverty line.
We also applaud the governor’s proposal to shift Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding in order to make these improvements to FIP possible. The League has long advocated for this kind of TANF restructuring, as the federal funds are intended to be used for families with low incomes, while much of the funding is currently allocated for programs that should be funded by the general fund and mainly serve middle-class and even affluent families.
In addition to shifting some TANF dollars for FIP, the governor is also proposing to shift a portion of TANF dollars to increase the State Emergency Relief Program funds by $30 million. This additional emergency funding will go a long way in helping families receive the assistance they need when facing conditions of extreme hardship. The cash assistance can be used for relocation, homeownership, utilities and deposits, home repairs and property tax arrearages when unexpected emergencies arise.
The governor also continued to prioritize the well-being of Michigan’s kids by proposing to continue universal school meals–which have benefited nearly 1.4 million school children across our state–and the federal summer EBT program through state investment–which is expected to help around 900,000 Michigan students. We know how critical year-round nutritious meals are to the health, development and academic success of kids, and these two programs, together, ensure that Michigan kids have the vital nutrition they need throughout the school year and summer months.
Additionally, the government maintained her strong focus on equity in her proposed school funding investments, including increased funding targeted toward the students and schools that need it most: English-language learners, students with disabilities, students from low-income backgrounds, and rural or isolated schools. We know that students bring unique needs with them to school. Without these needs being met, not all students are afforded the same access to high-quality education as their peers. Equity-based school funding helps ensure all students have the opportunity to be successful in their classrooms and beyond.
The governor’s proposals to further support Michigan’s child care providers–including a 10% ongoing rate increase and free child care for their own children–are also positive. However, while these proposals are a good start in supporting and stabilizing our early child care workforce, we must continue to look for ways to further increase our state investments in order to fully support these critical caregivers and get us back to the levels of funding we saw during the pandemic. We know that a stronger child care workforce will lead to more accessible child care for working families, improved outcomes for our youngest residents and a stronger state economy as a whole.
Although we would like to see stronger investments in child care, we are, overall, very supportive of these and several other priorities in the governor’s budget, many of which align with our own budget priorities for the people of Michigan. The governor continues to keep Michiganders at the heart of her vision for our state and we encourage the Legislature to follow her lead as they begin their budget work.
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.
