For Immediate Release
February 11, 2026
Contact:
Laura Ross
lauramr@mlpp.org
517-281-1084
League weighs in on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s budget recommendation
Michigan’s next budget must make up nearly $2 billion hole created by federal cuts
LANSING—The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement today on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s fiscal year 2026-27 state budget recommendation. The statement can be attributed to Michigan League for Public Policy President and CEO Monique Stanton.
“In the final state budget recommendation of her tenure, Gov. Whitmer has included several important priorities that will help lift up Michiganders, safeguard them from financial strain and mitigate the harm caused by reckless federal cuts to important programs.
“The governor’s proposal to strengthen Medicaid funding through tax increases on gaming as well as vaping and tobacco products is a win-win for the health and well-being of Michiganders. It’s a smart solution that will help close this year’s $1.8 billion hole created by last year’s federal megabill, and it will help protect access to health care for families, children, seniors and people with disabilities across the state at a time when that protection is very much needed due to the federal funding cuts. At the same time, we hope the new tax on vaping and tobacco products will reduce consumption of these products that have caused significant harm to the health of our state’s people, including Michigan youth and young adults.
“The governor’s proposal to significantly increase funding for childhood literacy is also something we applaud. This is an area where our state continues to fall further behind, with Michigan seeing a 10% increase in the share of fourth graders not proficient in reading, according to the latest national KIDS COUNT® data released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The current data shows that only 1 in 4 Michigan students is reading proficiently in fourth grade. The governor is proposing a much-needed investment to help better support our children with reading and writing skills, which will undoubtedly set them up for brighter futures and result in a huge return on investment for the state. The continuation of universal free school meals and support for mental and physical health services is also essential for the future educational success of Michigan’s youth.
“Continuing to invest in the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and expanding Michigan Reconnect will also go a long way in ensuring more Michiganders are able to pursue affordable higher education, which will help to bolster the state’s workforce and further strengthen the state’s economy.
“While there’s much to be lauded in the governor’s budget recommendation, it’s important to remember that budgets are not just one-year documents. They set the state up for long-term success. Adequate and equitable revenues are a necessary part of the budget conversation so that Michiganders have what they need to thrive. This will be especially important for families as they face ongoing federal cuts and threats to health care, food, child care, education and other services. The mounting financial pressure for these families will be immense, and state leaders must come together to find ways to assist them.
“Today’s recommendation from the governor is a step in the right direction in many ways, and it will have a meaningful impact on the people who proudly call Michigan home by reducing harm caused by federal actions and maintaining critical state programs and investments. We recognize that the state is facing financial strain, but we hope that Michigan lawmakers will follow the governor’s lead by crafting a balanced budget that centers the very real needs of the people of Michigan.”
Additional Information
The League’s fiscal year 2026-27 state budget priorities can be viewed at https://mlpp.org/the-peoples-budget-2027-state-budget-priorities/.
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The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on opportunity for all. Its mission is to use data to educate, advocate and fight for policy solutions that undo historic and systemic racial and economic inequities to lift up Michiganders who have been left out of prosperity. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.
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.
