As part of a deal to fix the recent Michigan budget crisis, the Senate passed a bill cutting future teachers' benefits. Meanwhile, as the Lansing State Journal points out, they left their own benefits intact.

Actually, the article leaves me feeling vaguely optimistic. I mean, it sucks for all my teacher friends--and I know quite a few people in education. Three of them in particular may get burned by this--one's doing long-term subbing in Pennsylvania, one's in North Carolina, and one's on a missions trip in Albania--if they ever want to come back to Michigan, which is where their families are, they'll be a little bit screwed. Naturally, it irritates me that the legislature would hurt the public schools before it hurts itself. On the other hand, I'm outraged because I'm now aware of the issue--but I wouldn't be aware of the problem if it weren't pointed out to the newspaper by Senators. Maybe there's hope for change.