Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is being floated for a pick for Kamala even while both sides of the aisle in her state were slamming her. She signed an education budget that cuts deeply into school safety and mental health. The budget passed Michigan legislature, cutting a huge $300 million. It’s a 92% decrease. It cuts teacher’s pensions and didn’t increase per student funding. Education officials are furious.
Whitmer isn’t looking
At her own state, she has bigger goals in mind. Michigan Republicans, school district superintendents, teachers and education advocates were all screaming at her.
Republican Gina Johnsen said they weren’t given any time. “I have no words. The party that gets criticized for not caring cared, and the party that said they cared so much just gouged the education budget.” State Democrats are “now horrified by the last-minute changes that went through, and they’re saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I wouldn’t have voted for it had I known.’”
Johnsen predicted layoffs due to the cuts. Michigan State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice was appointed by the Democrat-led state Board of Education. He wasn’t happy either.
Whitmer cutting education
Dr. Rice put out a statement, “This reduction will slow Michigan’s recent momentum in addressing student mental health challenges. A $300 million reduction in funding for children’s mental health services and school safety fails to recognize the physical and mental health needs of our students.”
Robert McCann is the executive director of the The K-12 Alliance of Michigan. He just said “There will, unfortunately, be consequences of this misguided budget felt in every school across Michigan.”
McCann was chief of staff of the Michigan Senate Democratic Caucus when Whitmer was the Minority Leader a decade ago. Only one person in the education system praised this in comparison.
This didn’t do Whitmer any favors
Michigan Education Association President Chandra Madafferi had more glowing words for it.
“There were deep cuts to categorical funding for school safety and student mental health — cuts that will need to be navigated at the local level to keep our schools safe learning spaces for all students and employees. Our hope is that state lawmakers will return after the summer break to pass a supplemental budget that funds these critical student mental health and safety priorities.”
Education got cuts so pet projects could go through. A $10 million siphon for a youth sports complex in Frankenmuth and $2 million for Downtown Boxing Gym in Detroit were two among a number of other places that money went toward.
Republican Cam Cavitt said both sides were working toward educational goals but Whitmer gutted it. “And why did the governor do that? So she could give out political gifts to her base who go back to the splash pads and the cricket fields. I have six school districts in my House district and not one of the superintendents is in favor of the budget.”
