Rutledge Response to Executive Budget

“This morning, the Governor presented his appropriations proposal to the Legislature, formally starting the conversation about the coming year’s budget. There weren’t a lot of surprises. Gradually improving employment and economic indicators, nationally and at the state level, mean that there is more money to work with, which should be a good thing. But this proposal would extend last year’s deep cuts to education, with only minor increases to public school districts, community colleges, and universities. The Governor also mentioned a new set of `best practices’ that schools will have to demonstrate before receiving full funding. Schools have more to worry about - like educating kids - than whether they will receive necessary resources from the state. We can’t expect Michigan to move forward without investing in education. And we can’t pretend that schools and communities aren’t hurting.”