It is nice to see education moving to the forefront of debate in Michigan. At this point, residents have become accustomed to lawmakers seemingly doing everything except making laws.
That is why we were happy to hear the bipartisan State Board of Education on May 11 unanimously approved a set of recommendations to reform Michigan’s education system. If the changes are implemented, MSU students could be looking at state financial assistance for the equivalent of two years of college or technical training, as well as a renewed dedication to keeping tuition costs low. Furthermore, reforms to K-12 and preschool could ease the burden on colleges in the future to help keep costs down.
For the most part, we agree with the points the board laid out. However, we would want legislators to concentrate on the issues that address the current state of the economy as well as political realities.
The board recommendations are not binding — they are suggested actions for legislators during state budget negotiations. That means any plan would have to be approved by a Legislature increasingly defined by its party lines. Even as we applaud the bipartisan aspect of the board there are questions as to what it actually means.
The Board composition — six Democrats and two Republicans — does not scream bipartisanship. Although the recommendations passed unanimously, some of the proposed funding measures, such as a graduated income tax, taxing of private pensions and a sales tax expansion, likely will not find bipartisan support.
We think the best way to approach the subject is to try and find funds in programs both sides of the aisle are likely to compromise on, such as the Internet sales tax. According to the report released by the Board, fully realizing the potential of the tax could net the state $25 million to $100 million. To fully capitalize on the plans, we believe legislators first should look at programs addressing higher education.
Funding should go to programs such as No Worker Left Behind and similar programs attempting to address unemployment during Michigan’s transition to a knowledge-based economy.
The other issues are essential long-term goals it seems are aimed at creating a standardized system across the state. Those goals will lay the foundation for what could be a considerable change in how Michigan approaches education.
In an article published in the Detroit Free Press, board member Cassandra Ulbrich, D-Rochester Hills, said, “This is an exercise in the way government is supposed to work.”
Maybe she is right, but in the past we have been treated to partial government shutdowns and a political process involving entrenched representatives yelling at each other over partisan lines.
Instead of a repeat of legislatures past, we hope representatives look past themselves and come up with something everyone can live with.
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