CBPP Names New Leaders of State Fiscal Policy Work

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) announced today new leadership of its State Fiscal Policy division. The division oversees CBPP’s work to advance equitable and transformative fiscal policies in the states and coordinates the State Priorities Partnership (SPP), a network of state policy organizations in 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that is focused on designing and promoting policies that foster economic, health, and racial justice.

After an extensive national search, CBPP has chosen Michael Leachman and Brandon McKoy to co-lead the division. Both currently serve as Vice Presidents of the division, and Leachman served as the interim Senior Vice President for the division during the search process.

“I’m thrilled to announce Brandon and Mike as the co-leaders of the Center’s State Fiscal Policy division,” said Sharon Parrott, CBPP President. “The Center’s State Fiscal Policy division and the State Priorities Partnership have long been innovative leaders in advancing state policies that help build a nation where everyone has the resources they need to thrive and share in the nation’s prosperity. Brandon and Mike are exceptional leaders who listen closely and act effectively. And they are deeply committed to collaboration both within the Center and with partners in states and at the national level.”

Leachman has worked for CBPP for nearly 14 years, rising from a senior policy analyst to overseeing the State Fiscal Policy division’s policy and communications teams. Leachman carries deep knowledge of state fiscal issues and has played a leadership role on numerous projects and initiatives in his tenure. For instance, he led CBPP’s policy work aimed at securing needed fiscal aid for states, localities, tribal nations, and territories through the American Rescue Plan and promoting uses of those funds that would forge a path to an equitable recovery. He also started CBPP’s highly successful state immigration policy project, was lead author on a major project documenting the racist history of state revenue policies, and played a central role in starting projects aimed at transforming state criminal legal policies. Before CBPP, Leachman worked for nine years at the Oregon Center for Public Policy, a member of the SPP network. Earlier in his career, he was a community organizer in Chicago.

“The State Priorities Partnership is a highly effective, innovative, and adaptive network. I’m so proud to co-lead the CBPP team that supports it and to do so in collaboration with Brandon, who brings such talent and vision to the network,” said Leachman. “At this pivotal time for state policy-making around the country, our work — work to advance antiracist state budget, tax, and economic policies that unlock the potential of people and communities who have been marginalized by racism and economic inequities — is more needed than ever.”

McKoy has served as CBPP’s Vice President of State Partnerships since late 2021. In that capacity, he leads the Center’s extensive efforts in support of the SPP network including over $11 million in annual regranting. Previously, McKoy was President of New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP), the State Priorities Partnership member in that state. McKoy worked at NJPP for seven years, starting as a State Policy Fellow, CBPP’s fellowship program aimed at expanding the range of voices influencing state fiscal policy. During McKoy’s extraordinary tenure at NJPP, he led the organization’s successful work in support of a $15 minimum wage and drove its winning initiative for New Jersey to adopt a higher tax on income over $1 million. He also deepened the organization’s partnerships with grassroots organizations, including through collaborative work to legalize cannabis, implement immigrant-friendly policies, and aggressively address climate change.

“Collectively, the State Priorities Partnership has helped pass a myriad of state policies that strengthen equity and shape people’s lives every day — from better school funding formulas and more affordable health care systems to child tax credits and progressive revenue policies,” said McKoy. “I am proud of what CBPP and SPP have accomplished together over decades of partnership and excited for the work we will do together in the future.”