Sections

State Senate passes 1996-97 budget

The Michigan Senate passed three bills, sending them to the House, including a massive school aid measure for the 1996-97 fiscal year.

The House, meanwhile, worked into the evening and approved three other budget bills, which now will proceed to the Senate.

It was the first floor action in the Senate on the $8.6 billion general-fund budget recommended by Gov. John Engler. Altogether, when restricted and federal money is added, the budget totals $30.3 billion.

Heated debate was touched off in both chambers by Engler's proposal to eliminate adult education money from the school-aid bill. This year, it totals $185 million, but Senate leaders wrote $65 million back in for the upcoming fiscal year.

Democrats blasted Engler's cut, saying that many people depend on adult education to acquire the skills needed for a job.

"What are we dooming these young girls to?" demanded Sen. Jim Berryman (D-Adrian), recounting a recent visit to an adult education class where students were fearful of losing state support.

"These stories can be multiplied throughout the state of Michigan," he said, pushing an amendment to replace all the lost money. "It's an avenue this Legislature must not cut off."

But Sen. Dan DeGrow (R-Port Huron), chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on school aid, defended the cut. He said local school districts can place more money into adult education if they want to.

"There's only so many dollars," he said. "There are limits. We do have to make choices."

Watched by a gallery full of adult education supporters, the Senate rejected Berryman's amendment, but only on a tie vote.

In the end, the $307 million school aid bill went to the House on a 24-13 vote. With less rancor, the Senate also passed and sent to the House a $2.3 billion bill to finance the Department of Community Health and a $1.3 billion measure for the Department of Corrections.

The House's share of the adult education debate centered around the budget for the Michigan Jobs Commission. The House cut the $65 million from the commission's budget that the Senate had added to the school aid plan.

Engler had envisioned sending all adult education funds to the Jobs Commission to provide job training for middle and high school students, literacy education for adults and other programs.