LANSING – House Democrats held press conferences throughout the state Monday and called on Governor Rick Snyder and Legislative Republicans to restore school funding to the proposed Republican-backed education budget. The proposed budget now in a conference committee allows last year’s nearly $1 billion raid of education funds to stand, and does not increase the per-pupil foundation allowance which was cut $470 per pupil in the current fiscal year budget. The proposed budget also pits schools against each other competing for small increases if they meet vaguely defined “best practices” – such as maintaining an online dashboard – which do nothing to improve classroom instruction or provide more resources for students. In reality, the total recommended expenditures for schools decline from Fiscal Year 2012 to Fiscal Year 2013 and decline again in Fiscal Year 2014 making the budget a net loss, and the School Aid foundation allowance for schools will actually be at its lowest level since 2006. The following House Democrats participated in press events held throughout the state: Vicki Barnett (D-Farmington Hills) Lisa Brown (D-West Bloomfield) George Darany (D-Dearborn) Douglas Geiss (D-Taylor) Tim Greimel (D-Pontiac) Rudy Hobbs (D-Southfield) Andrew Kandrevas (D-Southgate) Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods) Stacy Erwin Oakes (D-Saginaw) Charles Smiley (D-Burton) Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak) For a district specific break down of education cuts go to the House Democrats “Fight School Cuts” website at www.FightSchoolCuts.com.
