A new MIRS report alleges that key Republican leaders advised Gov. Snyder and State Superintendent Flanagan to keep Common Core below the radar in the fall of 2013 until a key vote on a resolution was passed to allow implementation to continue.
In the days before the House gave final approval to a resolution on Common Core State Standards, Speaker Jase BOLGER (R-Marshall) wanted the Governor and State Superintendent to “keep a low profile,” according to a newly released email.Progress Michigan obtained the email as part of sweeping Freedom of Information Act requests that the organization has made across state departments.
The controversial 2013 House resolution was drafted after a heated summer of debate. Its passage was in doubt, as most Representatives and Senators saw the tide turning against on Common Core. The advice to “keep a low profile” allowed the resolution to be gaveled through without a voice vote. From the emails obtained by Progress Michigan it appears Gov. Snyder’s chief of staff honored Bolger’s request and advised Gov. Snyder, Lt. Gov. Calley, and Superintendent Flanagan to keep a “low profile on CC until after the concurrence on Tuesday.” ,
The House resolution included a laundry list of conditions for the spending to continue.
On Oct. 24, the Senate approved the resolution with changes, meaning it had to go back before the House.
A day after the Senate vote, Dennis MUCHMORE, Gov. Rick SNYDER‘s chief of staff, wrote an email to Snyder, Lt. Gov. Brian CALLEY and State Superintendent Mike FLANAGAN.
“The Speaker asks that everyone keep a low profile on CC until after the concurrence vote on Tuesday,” Muchmore wrote.
Less than 20 minutes later, Flanagan responded that he was somewhere else. “But I’d like to know what I have to do to get the respect as State Sup that the Speaker does,” Flanagan wrote.
On the following Tuesday, Oct. 29, the House signed off the Senate’s version of the Common Core resolution without a roll call vote (See “House Gives Final OK For Common Core Spending,” 10/29/13).
This is NOT leadership and NOT representative government.