A state budget panel has voted to cut state funding to schools and universities that agree to new long-term union contracts before the end of the month.
That’s when the state’s new right-to-work law goes into effect.
We have more from The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Jake Neher.
Universities would lose 15 percent of their state funding, and school districts would not be able to get performance or technology grants - unless any new contracts signed before right-to-work takes effect include cost savings of at least 10 percent.
Republican state lawmakers say contracts that are good for several years are unprecedented and could hurt taxpayers.
Representative Al Pscholka says schools knew what they were getting into.
“There should be no surprise here," he says. "Folks knew we were looking at these contracts and there could be some ramifications to them.”
Wayne State University and the University of Michigan could both see cuts under the proposal.
Democrats say the schools broke no laws and should not be punished.
