School Aid Bill Up Next For Mich. Lawmakers
LANSING (WWJ/AP) - A separate budget bill covering public schools, community colleges or state universities still waits to be passed, now that lawmakers have passed a $33 billion budget bill for state spending.
There is a huge budget battle unfolding in the Michigan House where some Republicans are reluctant to support their governor to cut education by $470 per pupil.
Howard Walker, a State Senator, says he's waiting to see if there's a surplus, and if there is then that ought to go to education. "School aid is one of our highest priorities. If there is revenue coming in after May 16th that's higher than projected right now, we'll have to ask the rest of the caucus members, but I see that as being one of our highest priorities," says Walker.
However, WWJ's Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick says the question remains whether the governor can get enough Republicans to support his cuts to education.
Wednesday, the Michigan House passed a $33 billion budget bill that covers state spending for everything but education. Lawmakers were deeply divided on the measure, which closes prisons, drops 12,600 families from welfare and cuts senior services. Majority Republicans say the budget puts the state on sound financial funding without using one-time fixes. Minority Democrats say the bill cuts important services such as job training.
(Copyright 2011. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All Rights Reserved.)
