Gov. Rick Snyder (R) avoided asking the public what he had already floated privately with lawmakers: State aid to help Detroit emerge from bankruptcy, the Associated Press reported on Saturday. Snyder appears to have some allies in the leadership of the Republican-led legislature, but other legislators are worried about state financial assistance to Detroit setting a precedent if other cities collapse. Snyder is gauging support for a state commitment of roughly $350 million over 20 years, matching $330-plus million in commitments to date from national and local foundations to shore up Detroit's pension plans and prevent the sale of valuable city-owned art. Other foundations are expected to soon announce their participation in the effort to help address two of the bigger issues facing the insolvent city. Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, who last year introduced a bill to prohibit the sale of the Detroit Institute of Arts' collection to help with Detroit's financial crisis, said he had seen no plan or request, and other lawmakers said Snyder spoke more of a concept and did not offer much in the way of specifics. But Richardville was cautiously optimistic that a solution would be put forth soon and said legislators understand the city's importance to Michigan.
