Senate Republicans Continue Assault on Public Schools

Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer spoke out against continued Republican attacks against Michigan's public schools today as they passed a budget raiding an additional half-billion dollars out of the state's School Aid Fund to pay for their billion dollar giveaways to corporations without any promise of creating jobs.

“Over the past 2 years Republicans have now raided more than $1.5 billion out of a fund supposedly dedicated for our K-12 schools. Without question, it's the worst 2 year budget cycle in Michigan's history,” said Whitmer. “Republicans are showing once again that they are more concerned about lining the pockets of those at the top than they are about the future of our children and of our state. It's a disgrace.”

Whitmer added that the Senate Democrats offered a number of amendments to reduce the damage to the school aid fund and to our schools in this budget, all of which were defeated by the Republican majority.

“Governor Snyder promised us he would use metrics to shape his policies, but there isn't a single metric in the world he can point to that justifies this dismantling of our state's public education system,” added Whitmer. “It's time for the Governor to say enough is enough and support the investment in our schools that our children truly deserve.”