Students from across the state are joining forces in a coalition to fight the ballot initiative that would direct Michigan’s tobacco settlement money toward health care.
And thanks to the outcome of the Republican gubernatorial primary, they’ve found a leader in state Sen. John “Joe” Schwarz, who signed on as the coalition’s chairman Wednesday.
Since May, ASMSU Academic Assembly leaders have attempted to raise awareness about the Nov. 5 ballot proposal, which threatens to take away the funding source for the Michigan Merit Scholarship program. ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.
Schwarz is one of the legislators who implemented the scholarship program four years ago. It provides $2,500 to college-bound students who meet Michigan Educational Assessment Program test standards.
The Battle Creek senator, who lost to Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus in the Republican gubernatorial primary Tuesday, said removing the program would harm too many Michigan families.
“That $2,500 represents the difference between a family’s ability to pay for a son’s or daughter’s education and having to choose a cheaper school or not going to school at all,” he said. “Especially with community colleges, that almost covers the entire expense.”
The state gives out about 45,000 scholarships annually and has distributed about 135,000 since the program’s inception in 1999, Schwarz said.
Student leaders from Grand Valley State University, Oakland University, Ferris State University and other public and private institutions across the state have joined MSU in the coalition to fight for the proposal’s rejection.
Jared English, ASMSU director of university, governmental and budgetary affairs, said joining forces with the other colleges will extend the group’s reach across the state.
“We only have influence in Mid-Michigan,” he said. “The other universities will be able to get the message out to places where we don’t have influence and get the hometown boys and girls out there spreading the word.”
Members of Citizens for a Healthy Michigan, which introduced the amendment in March, said they were not aware of Schwarz’s involvement or the students’ grassroots coalition. The organization consists of health, hospital and anti-smoking organizations.
“I don’t know what this meeting is all about, but we want to reiterate: We do not oppose the Michigan Merit Award,” initiative campaign manager Lori Latham said. “We just ask that the Legislature find another funding source for it.”
But in the midst of state budgetary woes, the proposal’s opponents don’t see where a funding source could come from.
Gov. John Engler took drastic measures in his distaste for the initiative by cutting local funding for vital services such as fire and police protection to prepare for the proposal’s costly implications.
English said although he doesn’t agree with the governor’s tactics, the move brought needed recognition to the proposal.
“The governor’s veto brought a lot of attention to an issue that could’ve potentially been buried,” he said. “The governor did what he thought he needed to do and, in the process, he shed a light on our particular issue.”
Schwarz is one of many Republican legislators who hope to cross party lines and override the governor’s veto when they return to session Tuesday.
“Why would you not only penalize local governments but alienate them in an election year?” Schwarz asked. “That affects an awful lot of people and an awful lot of government services.”
The senator will join ASMSU leaders at 11 a.m. today in a discussion to share ideas and develop a strategy about fighting the ballot proposal. The forum is in 328A and B Student Services and is open to the public.
