Yesterday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and new State Budget Director Dave Massaron released their 2022 budget proposal. The state budget is a big area of focus for the Michigan League for Public Policy each year, and also a big avenue for our policy wins each year. The League has always said that the state budget is an indicator of our values, and that is truer than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its various impacts on our economy, schools and residents.
While the state budget is still a values statement, the budget is also the blueprint for getting our state and our fellow Michiganders through this crisis. And with that end in mind, there’s a lot to like in Gov. Whitmer’s 2022 budget for Michigan kids, parents, and workers.
We appreciate Gov. Whitmer’s continued commitment to promoting equity for all residents in the state’s approaches, policies and funding priorities, including in her 2022 budget proposal. The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare longstanding health disparities, and the governor continues to call for targeted and strategic investments to help improve the experiences and outcomes of all residents.
Education continues to be a top and necessary priority, with major investments proposed in child care and preschool, K-12 schools, and higher education and skills training for adults and frontline workers.
This budget includes an incredible and much-appreciated recognition of the importance of child care, both in this moment and perennially, significantly increasing the income eligibility level for the state’s child care subsidy as well as increasing rate payments for child care providers. Child care lays the foundation for children’s development and future education, but it is also a cornerstone of a solid workforce by enabling parents to work, and this funding is vital to help stabilize Michigan families and the child care industry as a whole. A lot more still needs to be done to stabilize access to care for infants and toddlers, and the League will continue to work with parents, partners, and policymakers of all political persuasions to make sure child care continues to be rightfully prioritized and funded.
At the K-12 level, the governor is working hard to address the COVID-19 fallout for our schools and students, and investing in a number of proposals to help counter learning loss, tackle challenges for specific groups of students, and limit the impact of current fluctuation in student populations. But policymakers should still consider fully funding the At-Risk School Aid program and providing more adequate funding for a weighted School Aid funding formula that directs more money to support students in poverty, English-language learners and children with special needs.
The budget also continues investments in a number of important programs to help provide education and training opportunities for the state’s workers, including Michigan Reconnect, Going Pro and Futures for Frontliners. As much talk as there is about talent attraction and retention, policymakers must not overlook the potential our existing workforce has. They just need a chance. And these programs not only offer workers a chance at a better opportunity, but a boost toward making it a reality by reducing and eliminating the overwhelming costs of a college degree, trade certification or skills training.
While the budget announced today includes investments in an array of key areas to help counter the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact, the most pressing concern remains the current political stalemate on billions of dollars in federal COVID relief. With the clock ticking on federal deadlines and Michigan residents’ struggles more urgent than ever, our leaders need to stop using this funding for political leverage and instead find a way to iron out a reasonable agreement—and quickly—that puts all of the federal COVID money to work as soon as possible.
Many of these funding recommendations align closely with Gov. Whitmer’s proposals outlined today, including helping parents with low wages find affordable child care and ensuring safe drinking water in schools and child care centers and protecting Michiganders from other environmental health threats. The League also continues to advocate for providing more state funding to public schools in high-poverty communities, updating the state’s food and income assistance programs, and more.
With the governor’s budget proposal released, the work now shifts to the Legislature to craft their own budget. That also means that this is a prime opportunity for residents to engage with their leaders and advocate for the needs of their families and communities. I encourage you to check out the League’s 2022 state budget priorities, budget timeline and advocacy tips, which can all be found at mlpp.org/budget-priorities.
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.
