Early in my career, I heard a state legislator say that on a critical tax bill he had received two constituent letters for it and two against, and he was tired of being “whipsawed” on the issue. The message, while made partly in jest, has always stayed with me. Many legislators hear very little from their constituents directly, and when they do, they take note.
One of the most essential legislative tasks needing constituent input is the state budget. The budget reflects the Legislature’s values and priorities, and it is critical that it addresses the needs of all constituents—including low- and moderate-income families and their children. To that end, throughout the budget process the League provides information to policymakers and communities.
This year, lawmakers are moving quickly to finalize the 2017 state budget with the goal of putting it on the governor’s desk by the end of May (the budget takes effect in October of this year). Most state department budgets will be approved by both the House and Senate by the end of next week. In the middle of May, state budget experts will meet with the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to make final estimates on the amount of tax revenue that will be available next year, and those figures will guide the final joint House/Senate conference committees working out differences in the budgets approved by each body.
There is much at stake for Michiganians as state lawmakers craft a final 2017 budget.
Health and human services: Investments in Flint continue to be critical and to date both the House and Senate have adopted the governor’s proposal for just over $15 million in the Department of Health and Human Services for nutritional services, child and adolescent health centers, community mental health, and lead investigations and abatement. Still to be decided is the legislative response to the governor’s proposal to expand the clothing allowance for children receiving public assistance and boost funding for family preservation programs for children in the state’s foster care system (both reduced by the House and Senate).
On a positive note, both the House and Senate agree to complete the expansion of the Healthy Kids Dental program statewide next year, and the Senate includes $23 million to address the shortage of dentists for adults with Medicaid coverage—a longstanding problem that has landed many Medicaid patients in emergency rooms and created barriers to employment.
Education: While there is agreement on general spending per-pupil, there is work left undone related to the Detroit Public Schools as well as a number of much-needed investments supported by the League including the expansion of child care eligibility from 121% to 150% of poverty, full funding for students at risk of educational failure, and an increase in the grossly-underfunded adult education system in Michigan.
Corrections: The League supports increased funding for reentry programs that can help return prisoners successfully to their communities and families. Over the past 30 years, Michigan’s prison population has grown dramatically and the state now spends more of its General Fund on corrections than it does on higher education.
Serious decisions will be made in the next six weeks that affect low-income children and families, persons with disabilities and Michigan’s aging population. The League will continue to provide you with information about the issues under debate, and we hope that you will do your part by contacting your legislators about the issues that affect your community and the state as a whole.
— Pat Sorenson
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.
