Lobbying pressure from the Michigan Education Association -- the state's largest public school employee union -- was also cited by Republicans as a factor behind the lack of support for pension reform. The union is strongly opposed and began running statewide radio advertisements critical of benefit reductions shortly after the lawmakers went home for the break.

Sen. Jud Gilbert, R-Algonac, is the sponsor of Senate Bill 1227, the school pension reform plan. He told the MIRS News that at least three Republicans were refusing to support the bills. Just two of those GOP votes would have provided the margin necessary for passage.

Days earlier, MIRS quoted a "well placed source" that identified four Republican senators as possible "no" votes on SB 1227:

Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw

Sen. Mike Nofs, R-Battle Creek

Sen. Randy Richardville, R-Monroe

Sen. Nancy Cassis, R-Novi

Kahn, Nofs and Richardville have each received political donations from the MEA in recent years. Nofs' past support from the union -- and his historical willingness to break from the GOP pack and cast votes in line with MEA concerns -- led one Michigan Tea Party organization to circulate literature critical of the lawmaker's record during his recent election.

Indeed, Mike Nofs has been called out as a RINO in the past, and consistently earns the title by reaching across to the other side often enough to show a donkey's tail.

But ultimately the big money spent on the public institutions of K-12 learning is put to shame by the results of Charter schools in Michigan.  While the debate holds over to the next time Lansing has its little get together, there are others who are hanging on to four leaf clovers, shaking the salt, and crossing fingers.

As the Public schools ask for more, and give a little less, there is apparently too much demand for charter schooling.  So much demand in fact, that "luck of the draw" can often determine whether your child gets a decent education:

All of the adults are here on this warm spring afternoon for the same reason: to find out if their children will gain admission to South Arbor Academy, a Washtenaw County public charter school that has become so popular that it conducts a public lottery each spring to divvy up any openings in its K-8 program.

Kindergarten is the most sought-after spot. The school has 77 seats available for the fall of 2010, but about 51 of those will be taken by siblings of students who already are enrolled at the school. That leaves only 26 seats to be filled by lottery, out of 206 applications.

Not enough seats for the kids.. A real to life lottery.  A CHANCE to have a decent education

The two-hour lottery followed a strict protocol, including a rule that it be videotaped. As the camera filmed, the names of all applicants in a given grade were placed in a container and drawn at random by an independent third party. As they were drawn, each name was read aloud and recorded, in order, on one of a series of white posters lining the gymnasium wall. Waiting lists are maintained even in grades with no current openings, in case a seat becomes available during the year.

Huh..  So while the MEA spends MILLIONS of dollars on an ad campaign to let us know how wonderfully they feel about our children ( I KNOW you've heard them recently) They are still fighing to take money AWAY from the kid's real education to pad a retirement option that is going to break the state eventually anyhow... just about when these lil buggers grow up

How lucky is that?