As schools across the state re-open for in-person learning, Michigan Democrats are calling on the GOP controlled Legislature to immediately release federal stimulus dollars for all of Michigan’s public schools.
House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski held a press conference via Zoom Monday, where the state representative demanded that Michigan Republicans release COVID-19 funds for schools, blaming the GOP for playing politics with the money as lawmakers continue to feud with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Currently, the state has more than $5 billion in federal aid, but only $1.4 billion has been released so far after GOP lawmakers approved those funds last week--a move that did not get supported by a single Democratic lawmaker in Lansing.
Republicans have said they are not going to simply give Governor Whitmer the $5 billion to do with as she pleases, and are withholding the money to ensure they have a bargaining chip to keep conversations with Whitmer going on how best to spend it.
Lasinski attacked the GOP Monday, and said that withholding funds is directly impacting public school districts across the state as they grapple with the return to in-person learning while working to keep students and staff safe.
“It is unacceptable,” she said.
As of Monday, Governor Whitmer said that 97 percent of public schools had returned to some form of in-person learning, while the funds have yet to be released.