From the First Tuesday newsletter
Sign up for the newsletter and e-news
This past month saw two disastrous pieces of public policy come out of Washington: the American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives and President Donald Trump’s federal budget proposal.
We provide a more substantive update on the AHCA below, but here’s what you really need to know: It raises costs, reduces coverage and slashes funding for states. In short, it’s bad, and we’re hopeful that leveler heads in the U.S. Senate will agree.
But that was just the appetizer. On May 23rd, President Trump released his budget proposal, and it is an all-out assault on people who are struggling in our state and our nation. We were expecting significant cuts to vital programs based on the president’s “skinny budget,” but it is far worse than anyone could imagine.
If the president is looking to make history and leave his mark, this awful budget will certainly do that. Our colleagues at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities say that his budget “contains the largest dollar cuts to programs for low- and moderate-income people proposed by any president’s budget in the modern era,” cutting these programs by an estimated $2.5 trillion over the next decade. About 59% of the president’s budget cuts would come from programs and services that help struggling families build a better life and keep food on their tables, clothes on their backs and a roof over their heads.
Food assistance through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would be slashed by $193 billion over 10 years, targeting the elderly, working families and workers struggling to find a job. On top of the massive cuts to Medicaid in the House-passed AHCA, Medicaid would be cut by an additional $600 billion over 10 years. Possible per capita caps on Medicaid would make it even worse.
People who are struggling economically are not the only vulnerable residents who are being exploited by this budget. Disability programs would be cut by $72 billion, including Social Security Disability Insurance for workers with disabilities and their families and Supplemental Security Income, which provides income assistance to individuals with low incomes, including children, with disabilities.
There are also significant cuts to Great Lakes funding, other protections for our air, land and water, and other programs that are essential to our quality of life and our way of life in Michigan.
As our recent 2017 Kids Count in Michigan Data Book and Making Ends Meet report show, millions of people and kids in Michigan are either living in poverty or barely getting by. Many families have yet to feel any economic recovery and are one emergency or unexpected expense away from financial disaster. More people are working, but in lower-paying jobs, and they depend on food assistance, Medicaid and other programs to survive—programs that would be decimated under President Trump’s budget. Michigan is particularly vulnerable to President Trump’s budget cuts, as we’re the second most reliant on federal funds of any state in the nation.
Our congressional delegation must oppose this budget and any others that follow in this same direction of harming our state’s most vulnerable residents, especially our children. They need to hear from the people that these appalling cuts will hurt and put names and faces to the lives that hang in the balance. If you or someone you know depends on food assistance, Medicaid, disability services or other federal programs, I urge everyone to share their story at Handsoff.org. And whether you use these programs yourself or just know that they are vital to a better Michigan for all, I encourage you to contact your congressperson directly and tell them to oppose the Trump budget or any other proposal that includes massive cuts to these programs.
— Gilda Z. Jacobs
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.
