When it comes to rescuing financially strapped school systems, state Republicans and Democrats continue to bump heads.
Late Thursday, the Republican-controlled state House passed a package of bills for a $617-million rescue plan. It now goes before the state Senate.
Jonathan Oosting and Chad Livengood of The Detroit reports:
The main bill in the package, approved by the narrowest of margins in a 55-53 vote because of uniform Democratic opposition, calls for school board elections in November but does not include a Senate-approved education commission, backed by Snyder and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, that would regulate where traditional and charter schools can locate in the city.
The six-bill package heads to the Republican-controlled Senate, where it faces likely passage as early as next week.
Democrats are unhappy.
State Rep. Adam Zemke, D-Ann Arbor, criticizes House Republicans for rejecting a bipartisan Senate plan that included the commission to control charter school proliferation in the city, the News reports. He suggested opposition was driven by the powerful DeVos family of west Michigan.
“This is a result of some folks on the west side of the state who were born with silver spoons in their mouths who want to screw over a city with young black boys and girls,” says Rep. Adam Zemke, D-Ann Arbor.
Related article today:
Freep's Stephen Henderson Blasts Lamakers for 'Garbage' Detroit School Package
