Something’s not working. But people in Michigan sure are. Nearly 5 million Michiganders are getting up and going to work. The unemployment rate is lower than it’s been since 2001. Yet 43% of households in Michigan are struggling to make ends meet. I’m seeing this up close right now and I want to share just a snapshot of the barriers we need to address to help working Michiganders.
As the Baby Boomers age and as advancements are made, more and more of Michigan’s workers have jobs in the healthcare industry. And since—yes, I’m willing to admit it—I’m part of that aging generation, I’ve started to get a first-hand look at what caregivers do on a daily basis. I also have a greater appreciation for the importance of healthcare.
Over the past year as my husband has undergone some health issues, we’ve enlisted the help of some great caregivers to help us through. This is the toughest job I’ve seen anyone do. They take on major physical and emotional duties to care for an adult—from helping him get around the house, to assisting with personal care, to helping with daily tasks that were once simple and now complicated. John and I are so fortunate to have this team helping us every day, and they truly have become friends over time.
As we sit together, I listen to what they and their friends and family face as they work hard to make ends meet. And these are just some of the real stories that policymakers need to hear and understand as they try to help Michiganders thrive.
Often these folks are forced to make risky budget tradeoffs in order to stay afloat. They’ve saved enough to buy a car, but can’t afford insurance. They can buy groceries for the family but only if they skip a month of a much-needed prescription. They can afford child care, but only by working three jobs. They want to invest in a home, but can’t save enough money because of credit card or student loan debt.
It’s complicated. And there’s not a simple fix.
Wages are part of the issue, of course. Sixty-one percent of jobs in Michigan pay less than $20 per hour, but a family of four needs $30.64 per hour to make ends meet according to the United Way ALICE project. And while Michigan’s minimum wage bumped up a bit this year, $9.65 an hour doesn’t go far for workers and families. More can be done to help Michigan’s lowest paid workers, like creating a higher minimum wage or eliminating the tipped wage to narrow the gap—a gap that is even wider when gender and race are factored in.
As with all policy, though, the solutions come from multiple facets of our society. Raising wages alone will not solve the problem.
Child care access needs to be addressed, for example. One of the caregivers who helps our family works 12-hour shifts, then often rushes home to care for her grandchild. Another concern is that a lack of transportation continues to leave people behind in the workplace—and not just public transportation. Money for car insurance, access to a license or the difficulty of paying off traffic fines keep workers from getting on the road. We also have a safety net that’s not flexible enough to help families rebound after a setback—but that’s a column for another day.
A big part of the problem is that Michigan’s tax system is lopsided, which means that while workers are struggling to balance their budgets, wealthy individuals and corporations are getting tax breaks. In fact, Michigan’s lowest earners pay nearly double the rate of the top 1%. Restoring Michigan’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to 20% of the federal credit, expanding the Homestead Property Tax Credit or implementing a fairer income tax would go a long way in helping workers with low incomes get ahead.
At the League, Michigan’s working families are our priority. And we’re advocating fiercely to make sure that our state has the policies to help folks get ahead. It’s time to build a system that works better for workers.
Warm regards,
Gilda
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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.
