We need you! The importance of public engagement in setting federal and state priorities couldn’t be more clear. The state budget, which will be debated by the governor and the Legislature in the next several months, is an important opportunity to have your voice heard. There is so much at stake for your community, including funding for local public schools, resources to ensure clean water, services for people with disabilities, public safety and resources to help parents find and keep jobs.
Gov. Rick Snyder will release his proposed 2018-19 budget in February. Here are five tips for making your voice heard:
- MEET WITH YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS NOW. Let them know that you are watching the state budget unfold, and what matters to you as a constituent. Building an ongoing relationship with your legislators is critical because a last‐minute letter or phone call may be too little, too late. Even if your legislators don’t sit on the committees that appropriate funds, they will have a vote on the final budget and have relationships with appropriations committee members.
- MAKE SURE YOU HAVE GOOD SOURCES OF TIMELY INFORMATION ABOUT THE ISSUES YOU CARE ABOUT. The League is monitoring the state budget and provides regular updates on important budget issues as well as opportunities for input. Legislative actions on the budget can happen quickly and in unpredictable ways, with meetings scheduled with relatively little notice and budget trade‐offs made behind closed doors by a limited number of political leaders—many of whom do not represent large communities of color or families working in low‐wage jobs. To be involved you must have timely information and we are here to help (www.mlpp.org).
- RECOGNIZE YOUR EXPERTISE. State budgets can seem very technical and complex, but they boil down to a plan for spending available resources on the services that communities need and value. You are an expert in describing what your community, your families and your children need. Tell your story and exercise your power. Better yet, work with local organizations and coalitions to show a more unified position on your top issues .
- TAKE ADVANTAGE OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. After the governor releases his budget in February, legislative committees meet to craft their own spending plans. Appropriations subcommittees generally take public testimony during this time and want to hear from you. Budgets are ultimately approved by both the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate, with differences worked out in joint House/Senate conference committees before being sent to the governor—usually by June.
- DON’T FORGET THE GOVERNOR. In addition to proposing a budget each year, Michigan’s governor has the power to veto portions of the budget passed by the Legislature, and negotiates with legislative leaders throughout the process. Let the governor know what you value.
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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.
Jacob Kaplan 
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. 
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.
Donald Stuckey 
Patrick Schaefer
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
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.
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.
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.
Amber Bellazaire joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a policy analyst in June of 2019. Her work primarily focuses on state policy and budgets affecting Michigan’s Medicaid programs. Previously, Amber worked at the National Conference of State Legislatures tracking legislation and research related to injury and violence prevention, adolescent health, and maternal and child health. She also brings with her two years of Americorps service. As a full time volunteer, Amber had the opportunity to tutor high school students in Chelsea, Massachusetts and address issues of healthcare access and food insecurity through in-person outreach in Seattle, Washington.
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.
