With the election behind us, we here at the Michigan League for Public Policy are regrouping and looking ahead to what may come in the new year. We know that the outcome of this election is taking us into some uncertain territory, but we stand ready to work across the aisle on the issues that matter most to Michiganders and carry on in our long history of building a stronger state filled with opportunities for all Michiganders.
More immediately, we are focusing on the Michigan Legislature’s lame-duck legislative session and the bills we would like to see make it across the finish line yet this year.
For those who are unfamiliar, ‘lame duck’ is the time between the election and the start of the new calendar year when our newly elected officials take office. It’s the period when legislators who are term-limited or have lost their elections are able to make their final mark on our state’s public policy prior to the end of their terms.
I’ve observed many lame-duck legislative sessions during my career in Michigan and it’s not hard to see why they sometimes get a bad reputation. Long days (and nights) filled with complex negotiations pack a lot of anxiety for those of us advocating for positive change.
But it can also be a time for great progress. Our 102nd Michigan Legislature has an important opportunity ahead of them to put partisanship aside and close out this year tackling the issues that will truly help Michigan’s people. Here at the Michigan League for Public Policy, we are making a final push for a number of key, people-centered bills that we hope to see make it past the finish line in 2024.
Among the bills we would like to see passed, the Michigan Family Leave Optimal Coverage (MI-FLOC) legislation tops our list. This bill would establish 15 weeks of paid family and medical leave for Michigan workers to take care of their own health, provide care for a loved one or welcome a new child without risk of losing their job or income. We know that a paid leave program would be transformative for the people who make up the backbone of our state’s economy, resulting in stronger economic security and better health outcomes for them and their families. And, from a business perspective, there is growing evidence that paid leave programs have had “minimal negative and perhaps even positive impacts on the overall business ecosystem,” according to a new report from the University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions. Additionally, a recent poll presented by Progress Michigan shows that 71% of Michiganders support a paid family and medical leave program.
There are also several bills related to tenants’ rights we would like to see make it to the governor’s desk yet this year, including a legislative package that would prohibit Michigan landlords from discriminating against tenants based on their source of income and a bill that would ensure a statewide right to counsel for tenants facing eviction.
Additional bills would provide for the sealing and expungement of eviction records in certain circumstances and limit the use of criminal history information in the tenant screening process. This legislation would not only help remove barriers to safe and affordable housing for Michiganders, but also ensure more families are able to keep a stable roof over their heads. This is especially important for the future well-being and educational outcomes of children in Michigan, given that 32,762 K-12 students experienced homelessness in our state in 2022, according to the latest Kids Count data.
The League is also in strong support of an unemployment reform bill package that, among other things, would increase the maximum number of weeks that Michiganders can receive unemployment insurance benefits and raise the weekly benefit amount. This legislation would modernize Michigan’s unemployment insurance program and bring it up to speed with the majority of other states in our country. Ensuring workers that live in areas where jobs are less plentiful—including rural areas—have adequate time to find the best work opportunities available to them, as well as a weekly benefit that more sufficiently covers the cost of housing and other basic necessities, would go a long way in strengthening Michigan families.
Also included on our list of lame duck priorities for 2024 are several other bills that seek to advance economic security, health and health equity, juvenile justice, child well-being and immigrant rights here in Michigan. To see our full list of priorities, visit https://mlpp.org/2024-lame-duck-watch-list/.
We hope that legislators who will be departing their offices at the end of December consider the legacy they’ll leave behind and take action now to ensure our state is a stronger, better place for all of their constituents. Michigan’s workers, families and children deserve to be at the heart of legislative decisions in these last few weeks of the 2024 legislative session.
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.
