June 20, 2005
June 20, 2005
In a meeting today with leaders of the K-16 Coalition, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm asked for the education community's help in ensuring that proposed increases in education funding in her 2006 budget proposal will remain intact.
"Help us win the budget fight we are in," Granholm exhorted. "Are we going to support our kids, or are we going to stand with the corporate interests and their special tax loopholes that divert millions from educating our children and providing health care services to our most vulnerable citizens?"
Granholm, who has increased funding for Michigan schools while resolving over $3 billion in budget deficits, told the group that unless the Legislature is willing to close tax loopholes for corporations and special interests, her proposed funding increase for the K-12 education foundation allowance may be in jeopardy. Granholm has proposed increasing the K-12 budget by $330 million, including an across-the-board $175 per pupil increase in the foundation allowance and increase in funding for at-risk students.
Granholm told the leadership group that investing in education is critical to Michigan's future and that it must be linked to both strong cost containment strategies and higher student achievement. She also told the coalition that additional investment in education must be accompanied by a mechanism for paying for that investment. The fight for meaningful investment in education, she said, must begin with the 2006 budget.
Granholm said closing special interest tax loopholes will also provide the money needed to continue health care for Michigan children.
"We all know that kids should be sitting in classrooms, not emergency rooms," Granholm said. "Unfortunately, the proposals offered by Republicans in the Legislature would cut thousands of Michigan children off of health care. That's wrong, and we all need to say it is wrong - and I will say that tomorrow when I address your members."
Granholm will address the K-16 Coalition at the State Capitol on Tuesday, June 21, at 2 p.m.
"We need to invest in education, because there simply is no other road to economic success," Granholm told coalition members. "But that investment must go hand-in-hand with getting the most out of every dollar we spend in education, which means reducing costs and realizing greater student achievement."
Among those meeting with the Governor were: Tom White, executive director of the K-16 Coalition; Jeff Mills, superintendent, Van Buren ISD; John Vaara, superintendent, Hancock Public Schools; Ray Telman, executive director, Middle Cities Coalition; Gary Allen, superintendent, Mt. Pleasant Schools; Donna Oser, executive director, Michigan PTA; Barbara Blanchard, vice president, Michigan PTA; Louise Somalski, director of government relations, Michigan Federation of Teachers; David Hecker, executive director of government relations, Michigan Federation of Teachers; Chuck Anderson, executive director, Michigan Education Association; Margaret Hartley, communications director, Michigan Education Association; Kathleen Booher, executive director, Tri-County Alliance; Joanne Weilihan, executive director, Elementary Principals' Association; Michael Boulus, executive director, Presidents' Council of State Universities; Brian Whiston, Oakland Schools; Leonard Rezmierski, superintendent, Northville Schools and president of the Tri-County Alliance.
