Ward again forgets his party controls the House and blames Detroit for problems

Chris Ward recently played the race card, and he used the old, stale wedge issue with the myth that the predominantly black Detroit schools are getting a bigger piece of the money pie leaving less for Livingston County students.

In a story that appeared in the Sept. 26 edition of the Daily Press & Argus, Mr. Ward says he’s frustrated over the Detroit teachers strike. Mr. Ward claims, “he proposed a budget line item for the state's 2007-2008 budget that would have gone toward increasing funding equity in Michigan's schools.
That plan was mostly dashed by the Legislature, Ward said, and replaced with one to allocate greater state funding for Detroit's schools, which are losing enrollment and suffering in other areas as well.
"That could have been a significant amount of money for all the districts in Livingston County," Ward said, adding that the county's schools receive either the lowest, or slightly higher than the lowest amount of state foundation, or per-pupil funding in Michigan.
"Basically, the equity money was cut in half and the balance was given to Detroit," he added.”

We know this is merely another political grandstand play by Mr. Ward, but we’re not sure if the rant is an anti-union one or an anti-Detroit one. Most likely both, but it’s typical of the wedge issues so familiar to those trying to hang on to power. It also smacks of what we have seen time after time as Detroit is used as a scapegoat for his failures. He plays Detroit off of Livingston County because they are an easy target, and no one in Detroit can vote for him.
Here’s the real truth, the education budget totals $13.2 billion, including an increase of $210 for every single student in the state. Also included in it is $20 million to be paid to a number of school districts with declining enrollments. That’s a problem facing quite a number of school districts in Michigan, but Livingston County is not one of them. As costs go up, we see the financial problems facing school districts whose enrollment numbers are stagnant or only increasing by a few students, like Brighton and Fowlerville, increase. Can you imagine the problems experienced with those districts actually losing even a few students? Of that money set aside $7 million is to go to the Detroit Public Schools.
This is so typical of Mr. Ward blaming someone else for things he made happen and has complete control over that we have seen in the past. He’s the floor leader of the party that controls both the House and the Senate. He not only personally controls what goes on the floor to be considered by the full House, but he is also a member of the majority party that can stop and pass almost any legislation they want. In fact, the plan he said was “mostly dashed by the Legislature” was clearly supported by his party, 107-2 and 103-3, respectively.

You can expect this to be a wedge campaign issue over the next 42 days, and a newly formed 527 group – remember these are groups Mr. Ward says he is trying to stop with his alleged campaign finance bills- called “Working for Michigan's Future” is running adds blasting the legislature for setting aside the $7 million for Detroit schools. Ironically, the ads are only airing in swing districts and where the Republicans have targeted certain Democrats.

The spokesperson for this stellar group is one Bill Nowling. Readers of the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus may remember Mr. Nowling. He briefly worked as a reporter for that newspaper, hired by editor Buddy Moorehosue when he was between conservative political jobs. He may also recall he worked for a group called Persuasion, Inc. that represented one of the large telecommunications companies. He allegedly tried to blackmail U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers by pressuring him to vote for a bill favoring the company he represented. He allegedly said if Rogers did not vote with his company, he would have every employee out marching for and supporting his opponent.

The bottom line to all of this is simply this, is there anything Mr. Ward will not say or do to keep and get more power? Is there anything Mr. Ward will not play politics with to stay in power?

The answer is clear.