Uphill climb for Gov. Snyer's plan for Detroit schools

LANSING, Mich. (WJBK) - Governor Rick Snyder's plan to rebuild Detroit Public Schools is a monumental one. With $715 million planned, Snyder says his plan will work but the road blocks at the State Capitol are looking like monumental tasks themselves and the governor doesn't have the votes to pass it.

Gov. Snyder outlined the plan on Monday: spend $72 million a year for the next ten years to buy down the Detroit school deficit of $715 million dollars. But the Republican governor doesn't have support from some within his own party, like Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R - Plymouth) who says he can't sell it to his voters.

"Just like I couldn't sell the Detroit grand bargain. There are other solutions we need to explore right now," Colbeck said.

For Sen. Jim Annaich (D - Flint), he said there are other districts failing and they need help too.

"I think we need to make sure that all urban districts, and districts in general, have to make sure they're taken care of before we decide whether or not to support the governors' plan. its going to look a lot different than where it is right now," Annaich said.

Detroit democrats are telling their colleagues that the deal will help the Motor City and the entire state.

"If we do help Detroit, when it happens, it helps the rest of the state out across the board," Sen. Morris Hood, Jr. (D - Detroit) said.

All this to say: the package appears to be a tough sell and the Governor has a steep hill to climb.