From the First Tuesday newsletter
Sign up for the newsletter and e-news
I hope you are all experiencing some type of spring “break,” whether it’s a full family vacation or just getting outside and enjoying the warmer weather. But the onset of spring means another season is upon us—budget season. That means that we have to get our rest and relaxation in now so that we’re energized and ready to get to work when legislators return to the Capitol on April 12th.
We are hearing that the full House Appropriations Committee will be taking up the education omnibus budget that covers funding for K12 schools, community colleges and higher education the first week back. The committee is expected to move the general government omnibus the following week, April 19th-21st. They are expected to move quickly, as are the Senate budgets.
Completing a budget in early summer has been a goal for recent Legislatures, and one they have been succeeding at. This earlier timeline has been particularly beneficial to schools, who know where their funding stands prior to the start of a new school year. However, the accelerated budget process has also had some negative consequences, as the need to move quickly has sometimes been at the expense of thorough deliberation and review. Speed is not the measurement of a good budget—its content is. And too often, an imaginary deadline takes precedence over real programs for real people.
The state budget is an indicator of our values, as our priorities are defined by what we are willing to pay for. In the Capitol, there is a limited amount of money to work with each year, and legislators invest in what is important to them. Sometimes that aligns with the needs of their districts and constituents. Other times, it is driven more by political consideration.
If we agree that the state budget is our values statement, then we have much to be concerned about. For the last ten years, the Legislature has been cutting the budget, hurting our communities, our schools, our local infrastructure and our roads. Some of that money, $1.6 billion, to be exact, went to business tax cuts that didn’t help our economy. While there are many different issues with state government that led to the Flint water crisis and the deterioration of Detroit schools, these problems were borne out of bad budget decisions. A business mindset and a hyperfocus on the bottom line meant that the Legislature lost sight of the needs of the people government is supposed to serve.
The League has always seen the connection between fiscal policy and social policy. We are dedicated to promoting equity and economic opportunity and independence for all. A majority of that work lies in pushing for state investment in the programs and services that people depend on to make ends meet and support their families.
From the moment the governor announces his initial budget each year, we get to work on both analysis and advocacy. The League released a first look at the governor’s 2016-2017 budget in February, outlining the pros and cons of the initial budget proposal. We will continue to provide Budget Briefs on other issues as the budget progresses.
The League has testified on budget proposals to make sure the concerns of the people we serve are heard. This includes supplemental budget funding to address the Flint water crisis, as well as appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services, funding for adult education and the budgets for School Aid and the Department of Education.
But the most important person or organization in the budget process is YOU, and the time to act is NOW. You have the power to make a difference and stand up for the budget priorities you believe in. We encourage you to get involved and act as an advocate for yourself, your organization, your neighbor, your school or your community. We will also be emailing out Action Alerts on different budget bills as they come up to outline how you can help.
We can’t let the pace of the budget process interfere with our advocacy. As things get underway next week, I hope you’ll continue to join us in the fight for a budget that works for everyone.
— Gilda Z. Jacobs
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.
