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Mackinac Center will appeal judge’s private school funding decision

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A free market think tank will appeal a federal court decision to dismiss its claim that a 1970 amendment to the Michigan Constitution discriminates against religious schools.

The challenge will be filed with the 6th Circuit US Court of Appeals in Cincinnati.

The amendment bans public funding for non-public schools.

Patrick Wright with the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation says in 1970 most private schools in Michigan were Catholic. He agrees the amendment does not single out religious schools.

“But all the history surrounding it indicates it was passed with hostile religious intent”

Casandra Ulbrich is a Democrat on the Michigan State Board of Education. She says what matters is what the constitution says.

“The language in the state constitution is very plain. It’s very clear.”

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