Public radio from Western Michigan University 102.1 NPR News | 89.9 Classical WMUK
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

State House Education Budget Approved, Democrats Cry Foul

State Capitol - file photo
Kevin Lavery, WKAR

(MPRN-Lansing) The state House has approved its plan to fund K-12 schools, colleges, and universities through the next fiscal year. 

The proposal would boost education funding by more than $200 million over the current year. But Democrats are blasting the proposal. They say Republicans are “picking winners and losers.”

“41 schools who get the maximum net increase of $299 per student – what a fantastic increase - they’re all charter schools,”

said state Rep. Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores).

“How does that work out that they’re all charter schools?”

Republican supporters of the proposal say the plan benefits all schools.

“This is – look it up – a record level of state financial support for K-12 public education,”

said state Rep. Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville), who chairs the committee that sets the House’s budget priorities.

“No school – none, zero, zilch, nada, nobody – loses money in this budget.”

The House education budget is about $50 million lower than what Gov. Rick Snyder proposed earlier this year, and strips special funding for school programs in low-income areas.

The state Senate is likely to take up its budget bills next week. The House and Senate will likely iron out differences between their spending proposals in conference committees later this spring.

Related Content