From the First Tuesday newsletter
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The Michigan League for Public Policy just began our 107th year fighting for better public policy and the people of Michigan. And like you, we at the League have a lot to be grateful for—and a few things we’d like to forget—from 2018. We also have a lot we hope to accomplish in 2019.
The 2018 election brought some good news for the issues we all care about, as ballot initiatives the League supported to end gerrymandering and improve voter access passed and a significant number of candidates who align with our values won their elections. Unfortunately, this shift to a more progressive electorate turning out in November meant a lot of partisan fireworks coming in December during the Michigan Legislature’s Lame Duck legislative session.
Nearly 400 bills were passed in many lawmakers’ last weeks in office, touching on nearly every area of public policy and posing some major threats to our state’s democracy, government and well-being. One of the most disappointing changes was the gutting of the laws to increase the minimum wage and provide earned sick leave for all Michigan workers. It was extremely disappointing that Gov. Rick Snyder signed these bills, even if he did take a stand and veto some other bad bills that made their way to his desk.
While Lame Duck’s most controversial bills garnered the most attention, some good things happened, too. We were pleased to see legislation passed to establish dental therapists to provide greater access to affordable dental care for all residents, especially those with lower incomes. And while it didn’t make it out of this legislative session, our hard-fought progress on the raise the age justice reform has us optimistic about the change in 2019.
There was some good news out of Washington in December, too, with Congress’ passage of a compromise on the Farm Bill. Sadly, this positive effort didn’t receive the full attention and appreciation that it deserved as the border wall debate and federal government shutdown took center stage.
We appreciate your support and dedication to our work last year and we’re excited to take our efforts to the next level in 2019. With the clean slate of a new year, now is the time to start planning how we can be better as people, as an organization and as a state.
What’s most important to us right now is making sure our new leaders and lawmakers understand the best way forward for Michigan. That’s why we will be analyzing the upcoming budget, reviewing the policies in place, poring over data on education, workplace issues, immigration, and healthcare. And, more importantly, it’s why we’ve crisscrossed the state to talk to Michiganders about what they value. Hundreds of folks have weighed in on our future, and the League has created a clear, concise set of recommendations called the Owner’s Manual for Michigan, which we’re launching this month.
The Owner’s Manual is a proactive plan for good, progressive public policy in Michigan that we will put in the hands of lawmakers, community partners and Michigan residents, with tangible policy recommendations and goals that we hope to make a reality in the years ahead. If you haven’t already, you can sign up here to receive updates on it.
Many Michiganders have made personal resolutions for the new year, and the Owner’s Manual lays out the League’s policy resolutions, addressing what the people of our state really need to live better lives. Michiganders want to lose weight, but it shouldn’t be because they are going hungry. Michiganders want to get more exercise, but it shouldn’t be because they can’t afford to fix their car or don’t have reliable public transportation and have to walk everywhere. Michiganders want to go back to school or get a better job, but they can’t afford to get the training and new skills they need. Michiganders want to be healthier, but don’t have access to safe housing, fresh nutritious foods, or healthcare to get the doctor’s visits and screenings to help them do that. Michiganders want the best for their kids, but are still worried about their children’s health, the quality of their child care and the education they’re getting at school. Michiganders want to budget their spending better, but still don’t have the means to provide for their families and make basic ends meet.
These are the real challenges too many real Michiganders are facing today. And there are countless real policy changes legislators can make to help them. The League’s Owner’s Manual for Michigan will outline what we need to drive Michigan forward. Be on the lookout soon for its launch and information on what you can do to help us get some traction on these vital policies.
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.
