Michigan House committee approves $48.7M for Detroit schools

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan House committee has approved $48.7 million in supplemental aid for the Detroit Public Schools after the district's state-appointed manager warned teachers might not be paid after April 8. The committee approved the bill Wednesday. It now goes to the House floor. House Appropriations Committee chairman Al Pscholka says the money will come the state's tobacco settlement fund and not in the form of a loan. The Republican representative also acknowledged the urgency of the situation. He told Democrats that contentious portions of the legislation will be worked out and debated on the House floor after Democrats failed to gain support for a number of amendments. Detroit schools' manager Steven Rhodes has said he can't "in good conscience" ask teachers to continue working without assuring them they'll be paid.