Yesterday, a commentary by me in Michigan Capital Confidential described how in both the state House and Senate, some Republican legislators, including ones endorsed by the MEA school employees union, are trying to shield the union-dominated public school establishment from spending cuts recommended by Gov. Rick Snyder.
The MIRS News May 4 edition adds the following to its previous report that the school establishment has “turned up the pressure and several House Republicans are apparently balking at supporting the cuts":
MIRS is told anywhere between eight and 12 House Republicans are reluctant to buck their local school districts by signing off on the proposed cuts to K-12 education.
Included on the unconfirmed list of fence sitters: Rep. Holly Hughes (R-Montague), Rep. Andrea LaFontaine (R-Richmond), Rep. Paul Muxlow (R-Brown City) and Rep. Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo).
Bumstead was non-committal when asked if he was a yes vote on the K-12 cuts.
"Am I a yes vote?" he repeated the question to buy some time to find an answer. "Can I hold off on that for another hour?"
Rep. Ken Yonker (R-Caledonia) was also on the fence, but word has it "he got something" supposedly from the Speaker's office, which moved him to the "yes" column.
Leadership is also keeping an eye on Rep. Deb Shaughnessy (R-Charlotte) and Rep. Peter MacGregor (R-Rockford), MIRS is told.
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