Posted on 06/09/2004 6:18:23 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
Affirmative action debate results in scuffle on Michigan House floor
By AMY F. BAILEY
The Associated Press
6/9/2004, 8:39 p.m. ET
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A debate over affirmative action in the state House Wednesday night resulted in a scuffle between two Democrats.
The incident happened in the House chambers after the Republican-controlled House narrowly approved next year's higher education budget that included an amendment to prevent universities from receiving any state funding if they give preferential treatment to applicants.
The brief scuffle between Rep. Morris Hood, D-Detroit, and Alan Canady, House Minority Leader Dianne Byrum's chief of staff, was the result of concern among some Democrats that the caucus had not done enough to stop the affirmative action amendment.
It was approved on a 57-44 vote. Eight representatives didn't vote.
Hood grabbed at Canady who reacted by pushing back. The two were quickly separated by House sergeants and other representatives.
Byrum, D-Onondaga, only said that the issue caused emotions to boil over.
"It looked a lot more inflamed than what it was," she said.
Just before the incident, the House voted 55-48 to approve the overall $1.7 billion higher education budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. That's the minimum number of votes needed for approval in the House where there are 110 members and one vacancy.
Six representatives didn't vote on the overall budget.
The amendment added to the spending plan targets the University of Michigan, which considers race in its application process, but does not award points to help get accepted.
Democratic Rep. Julie Dennis of Muskegon called the amendment racist.
Republican House Speaker Rick Johnson quickly pointed out four Democrats voted for the affirmative action amendment: Steve Bieda of Warren, Jennifer Elkins of Lake, Matt Gillard of Alpena and Lisa Wojno of Warren. But all four voted against the overall budget.
"They've got to be calling them racist too," said Johnson, of LeRoy.
Fifty-three Republicans also voted for the amendment. Thirty-eight Democrats voted against it, along with six Republicans: Sandy Caul of Mount Pleasant, Doug Hart of Rockford, Charles LaSata of St. Joseph, Mike Pumford of Newaygo, John Stewart of Northville, and Lorence Wenke of Richland.
Eight representatives didn't vote, including four Republicans: Brian Palmer of Romeo, Scott Shackleton of Sault Ste. Marie, Glenn Steil Jr. of Cascade and Gary Woronchak of Dearborn. Four Democrats who didn't vote were: Glenn Anderson of Westland, Ken Daniels of Detroit, Doug Spade of Adrian and Jack Minore of Flint.
Some lawmakers dismissed the amendment, saying it is unconstitutional because Michigan's 15 public universities are autonomous and lawmakers can't set conditions for state funding.
But Rep. Leon Drolet, a Republican from Macomb County's Clinton Township who introduced the amendment, stood by the measure.
"It allows for equal treatment under the law," he said.
The budget bill returns to the Senate for its consideration of changes made by the House. It's expected to end up in a House-Senate conference committee where the two chambers can hammer out their differences.
The higher education spending plan also includes a measure allowing universities to raise their tuition rates by an average 4.2 percent.
It allows universities to increase tuition by 3 percent, or $250 per student, whichever is greater, for the school year that begins this fall.
That's a higher increase than a previous agreement that allowed universities to avoid any cuts in their state funding in the upcoming fiscal year if they kept tuition increases to the rate of inflation, or 2.8 percent, when the new school year starts this fall.
Universities that agreed to the tuition pledge were to get back 3 percent of the 5 percent reduction they saw in an executive order Gov. Jennifer Granholm issued last year to balance this year's budget.
Republican Rep. Sandy Caul of Mount Pleasant, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee, recommended the higher tuition increase cap to help universities handle recent cuts in their state funding.
Mike Boulus of the President's Council, which represents Michigan's 15 public universities, said members of his organization are looking to lawmakers to keep their promise to restore funding to universities who signed off on last year's tuition agreement.
"We're looking for as much as flexibility as possible on the tuition side," he said.
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The higher ed budget is Senate Bill 1067.
BTW, for what it's worth, both men are black.
"Democratic Rep. Julie Dennis of Muskegon called the amendment racist."
Well of course she did.
Both of them are to be commended for closely following one of the more ancient traditions in debating. Not everything has been lost... not everything. More power to them (pun intended).
Leftist bias alert!!!!
Oh sure, the scuffle is because of Democrat concern ;)
I knew Hood was, didn't know if Canady was.
Doug Hart has lost it, his votes have been increasingly liberal/moderate
I love hearng Dim-speak: "Not considering race is racist."
"The amendment added to the spending plan targets the University of Michigan, which considers race in its application process, but does not award points to help get accepted."
Democrats in a fistfight over who can waste more tax money on racist entitlement programs. How novel.
</ sarcasm>
I'm curious to find out why Charles LaSata voted against the amendment against preferential treatment. He is a candidate for a Berrien County Circuit Court Judge position.. We certainly don't need someone who believes in preferential treatment to be judging and sentencing people based on race etc.
StrokerAce
I think Hart is term limited, which would explain it.
so he is actually a RINO
I can't wait until the blacks have to move over for the Mexicans, and there are plenty of illegals in Michigan, and more coming.
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