A version of this column originally appeared in The Alpena News.
Michigan lawmakers have consistently failed to address our state’s structural revenue problem for decades. Michigan simply does not raise enough in taxes, and lawmakers as a whole have been apprehensive to adequately address it. While more could be done on the revenue side, Michigan has some sensible solutions on the table to both raise revenues in the short term and improve physical and mental health outcomes in the long term for Michiganders.
Michigan has not increased its tax on tobacco products in over 20 years. Currently, consumers pay a $2 tax on a pack of 20 cigarettes, the second-lowest tax in the Great Lakes region. If we were to index this to inflation, the tax would be $3.52 today. Additionally, Michigan should look at increasing its tax on other tobacco products (like moist snuff, cigars, and cigarillos), which currently sits at 32%. Taxes like these reduce tobacco consumption, and it has been found that tobacco taxes, like those on cigarettes, have a particularly strong effect on young adults. Tobacco taxes will lower healthcare costs by reducing tobacco-related illnesses like lung cancer, so these taxes will bring in revenue but also help Michigan save money on healthcare, a sector already strained by high demand.
But young adults today are not buying traditional tobacco products; instead, they are opting for vape products or e-cigarettes. Young adults ages 21-24 are the most likely group to consume e-cigarettes at 15.5%. Additionally, 5.9% of middle and high school students use vape products per the Centers for Disease Control. Health risks from vaping are well documented and the market is large and growing; yet Michigan is behind most of the country, being one of 16 states that do not tax vape products, and the only state in the Great Lakes region to not levy these taxes. Taxing vape products at the same wholesale rate as the other tobacco products listed above would bring us in line with our neighboring states and most states in the country. It will also help improve the health of Michigan youth by discouraging consumption.
We also need to update our taxes on gambling, a profitable and pervasive industry that is mostly impacting young men. In June 2026 alone, Michigan casinos and gaming operators generated over $340 million in gross revenues. In 2025, Michigan casinos generated nearly $3 billion in revenue, with the state collecting nearly $600 million dollars in taxes. Michigan legalized internet gaming in 2021 and has taxed the industry since, including gross revenues. The taxes raised are distributed to various funds that help lower the negative impacts of gambling. Despite Michigan taxing casinos progressively, with operators paying a range of 20% to 28% depending on how much a casino generates in gross revenue, state taxes on online sports betting — which reached over $55 million in October — are some of the lowest in the country.
The proliferation of gambling comes at a societal cost, with a notable increase in calls to the problem gambling hotline. Since the legalization of gambling, calls to the state’s Problem Gambling Helpline have increased by 171%. The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates that the proliferation of gambling costs the U.S. $14 billion every year due to job loss, healthcare for treatment of gambling addiction, and bankruptcy. Teens and young adults are especially prone to addiction, which often overlaps with depression, anxiety, and self-harm. According to the latest Kids Count in Michigan report from the Michigan League for Public Policy, the state has seen a surge in teen mental health issues. Easy access to online gambling among teens, despite age restrictions, raises addiction concerns for young people because their brains are still developing.
Michigan should update its taxes on these socially harmful industries and habits, but relying on “sin taxes” alone is not enough, especially when we want to decrease the consumption of these goods and services. Reducing cigarette usage in Michigan is a worthwhile goal and a net positive for Michigan, but would also mean that tax revenue is depleted. Therefore, Michigan needs to look at more stable revenue sources — like income and corporate profits — to close these revenue shortfalls we are seeing across the state. Nevertheless, these taxes are a good start.
Maisha Massey is a Detroit native, educator, researcher and advocate committed to creating more equitable experiences for young people and the communities that support them. She currently teaches 11th-grade English Language Arts in Detroit Public Schools Community District and serves as a TeachMichigan Michigan Education Policy Fellow. Maisha holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and is currently pursuing her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Wayne State University, where her research centers the experiences of Black girls in schools. Her work is grounded in the belief that meaningful policy should be informed by the voices and lived experiences of the students, educators and communities most impacted by it.
Betsy Zobl-Tar 
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.
