LANSING – State Representative Barb Byrum (D-Onondaga) today voted for a bipartisan plan that will use a portion of the state's tobacco lawsuit to shore up the state's School Aid Fund.
"As we work to get Michigan moving forward, it is crucial that we protect funding for vital programs such as education," Byrum said. "The students of today are the workers of tomorrow, and ensuring they are given the high-quality education they need to compete for the jobs of the future is my No. 1 priority. We cannot balance the budget on the backs of our students."
Michigan's schools face a cut of $125 in per-pupil state funding if Michigan's immediate $803.2 million budget deficit is not resolved. The House today voted to securitize a portion of the $8.5 billion the state received from the 1998 tobacco settlement to protect schools from deep cuts.
"Making Michigan a magnet for new industries and businesses is contingent upon having the best-educated workforce possible," Byrum said. "This plan will prevent deep and detrimental cuts to K-12 education and help us get Michigan back on track."