LANSING – Education bills that failed to make it to the governor last term, including third grade reading and changing the school accountability system, were prioritized by the Michigan House Republicans on Thursday as they released their 78-item action plan for the term.
On the education side, House Republicans have included in their priorities promoting third grade literacy by providing interventions and policies to increase proficiency. A bill last term would have originally held back every third grader who didn’t pass a proficiency exam but was later changed to provide exceptions. The bill never made it off the House floor.
Educator evaluations and changing the school accountability system from color grades to letter grades have also made the list of priorities.
Gary Naeyaert, with the Great Lakes Education Project, said the group has been advocating for these reforms along with other special interests, and having them on a list of priorities at the start of session is promising.
“We think the stars are aligning very well for these kinds of common sense reforms,” he said.
House Speaker Kevin Cotter (R-Mount Pleasant) said many items were discussed before the final 78 were chosen.
“I think as you (go) through the agenda we have put forth today you will probably agree this is the most bold agenda we have put forward yet,” Cotter said.
Other education reforms in the plan include an early warning system for financially addressed schools, expanding school choice and creating a charter authorization accreditation.
Jared Burkhart, executive director of the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers, praised the proposal in a statement.
“We agree that charter school authorizer accreditation will enhance quality education options for Michigan families and their children,” he said. “This accreditation program will offer a set of standards that leads to increased quality and accountability for all charter school authorizers in Michigan.”
Cotter did not rank anything in the action plan, saying the first priority is to handle the current budget crisis and get the budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year finished by June 1.
The Republicans did include reducing the income tax, though Cotter said now would not be the time for that given the current budget shortfall.
Repealing prevailing wage and eliminating local ordinances that require paid sick days and certain wages also made it on the list. By contrast, legislative Democrats on Thursday announced legislation to mandate paid sick leave in the state.
On prevailing wage, Cotter said he’s not sure if the caucus would support a reform rather than a full on repeal.
“I don’t want to say at this point we would focus on reform. I think we need to make a decision. … Should government be mandating the price of construction?” he said. “If the answer to that is no, then I think we need to look at a repeal.”
Katie Carey, spokesperson for House Democrats, said there weren’t many surprises in the plan, and it’s unfortunate the Republicans want to lower wages for Michigan families by repealing the prevailing wage.
The Michigan Democratic Party also criticized the priorities presented.
“If the House Republicans’ Action plan is enacted into law, middle class families, seniors and working people will be the losers,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lon Johnson in a statement. “Instead of more attacks on wages, Republicans should join Democrats in fighting for the middle class and seniors and building a Michigan that works for everyone, not just those at the top.”
While House Republicans do not support mandates requiring paid sick leave in the action plan, their proposal does include reviewing a savings account for family leave in which employees would contribute pre-tax dollars and employers would contribute if they chose. Mr. Cotter noted it would not include a mandate.
Cotter also called transitioning qualifying inmates to nursing homes to allow for Medicaid to reimburse their care an “innovative idea.”
“As we look at not only an aging society … we have an aging inmate population,” he said. “What we have found to this point is that inmates in the prison system are not eligible for (Medicaid). Other states have found they can get that funding if they create a nursing home-like setting for inmates.”
Priorities also include “reinventing the Michigan Economic Development Corporation,” Republicans said, though Cotter said that would first mean understanding the MEDC. He said in light of some tax credits creating the budget shortfall, the caucus will do a thorough review.
A Michigan Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which passed the House last term but not the Senate, was also included as a priority.
Other major points include reforming the teacher retirement system and moving new teachers into a 401(k) system, reviewing the role of land banks, establishing a uniform definition for “veteran” in statutes and enhancing transparency and accountability for tax increment financing, something used by municipalities to capture increased taxable values.
Cotter also said the caucus will look at sentencing reforms, including bills former Rep. Joe Haveman introduced last term that didn’t get to Governor Rick Snyder. Similar bills were introduced this week.
But Cotter said the caucus needs to be very thoughtful while looking at reform. The state spends $2 billion in the Department of Corrections, he said, but the stakes are high in ensuring public safety and he said he believes there are efficiencies to be found.
“We need to go back and re-evaluate. Representative Haveman did some great work last term,” he said. “It is something we felt was important enough to bring back this term.”
The Michigan Association of Counties expressed relative support in a statement after the House Republican priorities were announced.
“We are generally pleased with the course being charted by the House leadership,” said Deena Bosworth, MAC’s director of governmental affairs. “And we stand ready to hammer out the details to make these goals into policy. But that requires a balancing act by lawmakers. For example, it’s great for them to urge a focus on the long-term liabilities of local governments, but they can’t, at the same time, be looking to enact more property tax exemptions that drain the very funds that local governments need to cover their liabilities.”
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