The top Republican in the Michigan House has all but torpedoed the governor’s plan to help get Detroit Public Schools out of debt.
House Speaker Kevin Cotter says if the plan, which is laid out in two bills before the Michigan Senate, passes that chamber he won’t call it for a vote in the House.
Instead, he’s pushing a House plan that mirrors the governor’s but also includes academic reforms and diminishes collective bargaining rights of teachers.
He says throwing money at DPS and eventually returning local control won’t solve the problem long term.
Cotter goes so far as to say allowing DPS to declare bankruptcy might be a better alternative to approving the governor’s debt relief plan.
Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, on the other hand, contends bankruptcy would be too costly and should be the furthest thing from consideration.
Both plans would cost the state over $700 million spanning 10 years.