Statement from MEA President Steve Cook on Gov. Snyder’s State of the State address

EAST LANSING, Mich., Jan. 16, 2013 — The following statement can be attributed to MEA President Steven Cook, in response to Gov. Rick Snyder’s State of the State address:

 “Governor Snyder claims he wants to build bridges, but he’s already burned them to the ground.

 “Snyder and Republicans in the Legislature have slashed education funding by over $1 billion and raised taxes on seniors and middle class families — all to pay for what now amounts to a $2.4 billion tax break for corporate special interests.

 “Then, Snyder went against his word and led the largest attack on collective bargaining Michigan has ever seen, by forcing through a so-called ‘right-to-work’ law without so much as a public hearing.

 “Now, Snyder wants to ram through a massive state takeover of public education through the so-called ‘Education Achievement Authority.’ This unproven plan continues to dismantle our local public schools, put more power with Lansing bureaucrats and force taxpayers to foot the bill for more corporate-run, for-profit charter and cyber schools.

 “We’re willing to work together with anyone on what research shows will help public education — and we were glad to hear the governor emphasize early childhood and vocational/technical education in his speech tonight.

“But it’s mind-boggling that after all of these attacks, the governor expects middle-class families to somehow fall in line and support his radical agenda. Michigan’s working families will not forget what Snyder and his cronies have done — nor will they forgive him.”

Contact: Doug Pratt, MEA Director of Public Affairs, 517-896-4465