This column originally appeared in Michigan Advance on July 31, 2020
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spent a portion of her COVID-19 briefing this week criticizing the long-awaited U.S. Senate Republicans’ COVID relief package that proved to be pretty light on actual relief for our residents, our state budget and our state as whole.
State Budget Director Chris Kolb echoed her sentiments, noting that “there is not a single new dollar” in the Senate Republicans’ HEALS Act to help Michigan and other states balance their budgets. That rings in at a full $13 billion less in direct support to Michigan than the U.S. House-passed HEROES Act.
Their concern is valid. And the urgency is real.
At the Michigan League for Public Policy, we have said all along that we need significant federal help to counter the COVID-19 health crisis and the subsequent fiscal crisis here in Michigan. Our state was able to weather the first financial storm by tackling the 2020 state budget deficit with a bipartisan agreement that relied heavily on federal CARES Act funding. But with that agreement, federal COVID relief money has essentially run out, while a $3 billion budget hole still looms in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget that must be signed by Sept. 30.
Unfortunately, after largely unanimous support for the CARES Act and other federal COVID relief early on, the U.S. Senate Republicans’ proposal shows that that solidarity, selflessness and compassion has significantly fizzled — even though the gravity of the situation and the circumstances facing many Michigan families has not.
The shortcomings of the HEALS Act stand in stark contrast to the rest of Gov. Whitmer’s update on COVID-19 cases and deaths. Michigan’s numbers are still alarmingly high, belying that the health crisis — and the related financial strain — facing our state is not going to be over anytime soon.
In addition to the physical toll COVID is taking in Michigan, there is also disturbing data on the economic ills our residents are currently enduring—data and needs largely overlooked by the HEALS Act.
According to a recent report by our national partners at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, nearly a half-million Michiganders do not have enough to eat right now. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment went up by one-third in the state from February to May 2020.
Twenty-two percent of Michigan residents are behind on rent just as state and national eviction moratoriums are expiring. Michigan had the third highest average unemployment rate in the country from April to June. And while hundreds of thousands of Michiganders are facing serious financial hardship, Black, Latinx, Indigenous and immigrant people have been hit the hardest because of structural racism that creates disparities in education, employment, housing and health care.
But the Republican proposal fails to meet the needs of our state or the moment, with no increase in SNAP benefits, no funding for homelessness services or additional rent vouchers, and substantially less money for laid-off workers. And it does not include nearly enough aid to state and local governments to prevent layoffs of teachers and public workers and cuts to schools, Medicaid or other critical public services.
As a people-focused organization, the League has been fighting since the COVID crisis began to make sure the needs of residents with lower incomes, people of color and immigrants in Michigan are front and center. And as a fiscal policy-minded organization, we have been calling on our federal government to step up and use the money and policies at their disposal to support our state budget and head off unprecedented and devastating cuts.
Our federal government has far more fiscal flexibility than we do at the state level, and right now, that means they have far more responsibility to steer us through this crisis.
While the Senate Republicans’ HEALS Act falls far short of the House Democrats’ HEROES Act, having both plans on the table will hopefully jumpstart conversations on a compromise.
As negotiations in Congress continue, we will continue to advocate for the needs of our fellow Michiganders, including: more federal funding and flexibility on how states can use it; additional funding for SNAP food assistance; expanded unemployment insurance; the temporary increase in the share of federal matching funds for Medicaid (FMAP).
U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) and Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) continue to be strong advocates for Michigan’s needs during this difficult time, and we know they will keep fighting for a better relief package in the Senate.
Hopefully, Senate Republicans will reevaluate their priorities and put people before politics as negotiations continue.
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.
