Michigan’s lame duck session tends to be a time when tensions run high and controversial issues get revived. The Capitol lobby is always filled as interest groups try to push their agendas or fight against other policy changes, deals are made behind closed doors, and unexpected legislation gets voted on as the chamber enters its 12th hour of voting. In this contentious time, sometimes you’re lucky if you fight to a draw.
However, this year, the League was grateful to see a number of bipartisan measures passed that helped, rather than hurt, some of Michigan’s most vulnerable residents—our seniors, our children and people seeking work. And while we would have liked to see more, and to see more done earlier, the good that bipartisan work can do is well worth it.
While seemingly unconnected, these policies will each help Michigan residents in their greatest time of need.
They will provide an additional $76 or so more per month to put food on the table for 338,000 Michigan families. Following a federal law change to what is known as Heat and Eat, many Michigan residents saw dramatic decreases in their food assistance. For years, the state squandered the opportunity to help them; instead it made many of our families, including seniors and persons with disabilities, make hard decisions about paying rent or heat or putting food on their tables. A small state investment will help ease some of these decisions for families struggling to make ends meet.
They will benefit children who are at risk of suspension or expulsion. Under Michigan’s zero tolerance policies, too many students received harsh punishments for minor or first-time incidents, resulting in students staying home and missing an education and many parents having to take time off of work. Instead, individual evaluation of the student and incident and encouragement of the use of restorative practices will help kids stay in school, keep them learning and help prepare them for their futures.
And they will help ease burdens on people who have been laid off and who are still looking for work. Michigan’s recovery has not helped everyone equally. Many Michigan residents are still unemployed, and unfortunately the system the state has set up to help them has failed them. An automated system was incorrectly denying people their rightfully-earned unemployment benefits. A fix to this system and to the policies that caused the hardship was necessary.
While seeing these policies implemented is well worth the turmoil of the three-week lame duck of 2016, more needs to be done. Justice-involved 17-year-olds are still treated and housed as adults, and other criminal justice reforms were left on the cutting room floor at the end of the year. Hunger, education and employment opportunities are still major issues for Michigan. And Flint still cannot provide clean water to many of its residents. Hopefully we can see this bipartisanship continue in the next legislative session to tackle the pressing issues that still remain.
— Rachel Richards
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.
