House Republican: Dems 'Disingenuous' About Omnibus School Funding Bill

Michigan House Republicans are defending an omnibus education funding bill, now in conference committee, that Democrats say leaves students behind. 

While criticized the speed with which the legislation moved through the House, Rep. Ken Goike (R-Ray Township) said it was part of a two-year budget process.

While he acknowledged the bill moved "pretty quick", he said, "Most of the heavy lifting was done last year ... There was transparency all over the place." 

He said Democrats are being "disingenuous" when they refer to a $470 per pupil funding cut implemented last year. He said $170 of that was the loss of one-time stimulus money from the federal government, and funds were set aside for incentives based on use of best practices, as well as to offset retirement costs. 

Goike said Republicans are concerned with reducing billions of dollars worth of retirement liabilities. In an interview with thenewsherald.com, Ari Adler, spokesperson for House Speaker Rep. Jase Bolger (R-Marshall), said retirement costs are “eating away at their (districts’) budgets,” and reducing those costs frees up funds for other purposes. 

Adler also defended "best practices" that House Democrats criticized Monday, saying that forcing districts to compete for incentives would be "good for students". 

While State Rep. Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods) said Monday that all of the bill amendments Democrats proposed to restore school funding were rejected, Goike said the problem was the price tag attached – $1.5 billion in amendments on a $13 billion budget. 

Goike has a personal sense of the challenging balance lawmakers face: He's a 38-year Michigan business owner, who has a dozen family members who are teachers. He said he ran for office because he was "very concerned" about his grandchildren and their future. 

"You can't keep taxing and taxing," he said. "We know our solution is jobs, and we know you can't work unless you have an education ... Obviously, education is very important." 

Lawmakers expect to have a bill on Gov. Rick Snyder's desk by May 31, thenewsherald.com reported.