For Immediate Release
May 17, 2024
Contact:
Laura Millard Ross
lauramr@mlpp.org
(517) 281-1084
With revenues set, policymakers must prioritize what Michiganders need most
As state budget discussions continue, League urges lawmakers to center Michigan’s people in their discussions and decisions
LANSING—The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement on today’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (CREC). It can be attributed to League Fiscal Policy and Government Relations Director Rachel Richards. The League urges lawmakers to prioritize issues in The People’s Budget, which features priorities for the Fiscal Year 2024-25 State Budget.
“The last several years have taught us that our state is stronger when we center the lives of Michigan residents and invest in what they are asking for—vibrant communities, healthy families and high-quality education. These investments need to be bold and enduring, building on the successes of our current budget, as undoing decades of disinvestment will take time to rectify. And today’s estimates, showing a stable economy and a stable revenue forecast, allow Michigan’s policymakers to do this. The needs of Michiganders–especially those with low incomes–should remain a central part of all budget decisions, with dollars prioritized toward things like basic cash assistance, child care, housing support, healthy food access, equity-focused school funding and healthcare.
“With 13% of Michiganders and nearly one in five of Michigan’s kids living in poverty, strengthening our state’s basic cash assistance program is necessary to help families meet their basic needs. After years of harmful policy changes and stagnant budgets, the Family Independence Program (FIP) now serves only 12,000 Michigan families, a staggering 85% drop over the past 12 years. Although we still have a lot to do, we are pleased to see that the governor, House and Senate have all recognized that improving FIP is necessary to respond to the needs of families living in poverty.
“Accessing affordable, high-quality child care still remains out of reach for Michigan’s families and workers. Last fall’s fiscal cliff only exacerbated this barrier. Meaningful investments in helping Michigan families access low- or no-cost child care and supporting child care providers must continue to be a priority.
“These cannot be one-time investments. As we look forward to future budgets, Michigan needs to become more fiscally secure by adopting a progressive income tax and ensuring all Michiganders pay their fair share. Right now, our upside-down tax system requires Michiganders with lower incomes to pay a greater share of their income in taxes than the wealthiest of households, which is not only deeply unfair, but limits the state’s ability to raise revenues for critical public services.
“Our state has the tools to make Michigan a place where all people can thrive and the state budget is one of the most important tools. It provides immense opportunities to lift up people who are struggling to make ends meet and build a stronger Michigan for all.”
Background
The Michigan League for Public Policy has included several key priorities for the Fiscal Year 2024-25 State Budget in The People’s Budget. This people-centered state budget roadmap was developed by combining the League’s data and research with the invaluable input of community members, service providers and advocates across Michigan. The People’s Budget includes several budget and policy solutions that would lift up Michiganders who have been left out of prosperity: https://mlpp.org/2025-peoples-budget/.
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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.
