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Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder answers budget questions during a live video chat at the MLive Lansing hub on February 6, 2014.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

LANSING, MI -- Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder proudly trumpets the fact that he's increased state-based K-12 education funding each year in office, but a new statewide poll suggests voters may be singing a different tune.

Here's my weekly roundup of interesting news, views and YouTubes from the state Capitol and beyond.

• ADDING UP: With Snyder and Democratic challenger Mark Schauer sparring over education funding numbers, Gongwer subscription news service commissioned a poll of 600 likely voters to see what math the general public is using.

Just 8 percent of respondents said the financial condition of their local school district led to increased education quality in the last three years, 45 percent said it remained "about the same" and 35 percent said it got worse. Twenty-six percent gave Snyder positive overall marks for K-12 education, while 62 percent gave him a negative rating.

"It is clearly a story that is a serious problem for the governor," EPIC-MRA pollster Bernie Porn told Gongwer. "It should be of major concern to him especially that he is making claims about education that clearly given these numbers are not messages or claims that are washing with voters."

• GAY BACKING: New Michigan Department of Civil Rights Executive Director Matthew Wesaw agrees with his predecessors: It's long past time to add sexual orientation protections to the state's Elliott-Larsen anti-discrimination law.

"The commission has supported adding that for 30 years," said Wesaw, who chaired the Michigan Civil Rights Commission that ended up hiring him as director. "It's the right thing to do."

MDCR forwards civil rights complaints from gay residents to local or federal agencies that might be able to help them, but that option isn't always available. "If somebody comes to us and says I was fired because I'm gay, or I was denied service in a hotel or restaurant, we don't have jurisdiction," said former interim director Leslie Fritz.

• POT BILLS PLANTED: Michigan Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) is taking his time with House-approved legislation that would allow for the return of medical marijuana dispensaries and expand the definition of edible products. But he's willing to continue the debate.

Richardville said this week that his Government Operations Committee is likely to hold a public hearing on the Republican-sponsored bills later this month or next.

"My number one concern is playgrounds, neighborhoods and school yards where we could have leakages," he said, "and I want to make sure we have a chance to explore that in great detail before we move anything."

• BBA BLOW UP:

A fascinating and civil three-week panel debate over a resolution calling for

through a constitutional convention

ended Thursday morning with partisan passage to the House floor amid shouting and silenced microphones.

Minority Democrats propose a series of 13 changes to the resolution clearly designed to put Republicans in an awkward position. Would they vote against language to ban flag burning in order to keep the resolution consistent with those adopted by other states seeking a convention?

Instead, House Financial Liability Reform chair, Rep. Earl Poleski (R-Jackson), ruled that the proposals were "not germane," citing a procedural rule that Democrats argued did not apply. State Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) repeatedly raised his voice to denounce the "shameful" tactic, and his microphone was turned off several times.

• CHAMBER ENDORSEMENT: Snyder picked up an endorsement this week from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, which had backed Mike Cox in the 2010 GOP primary before picking the Ann Arbor businessman in the general election.

"Four years ago, the Michigan Chamber endorsed Rick Snyder for governor because we shared his vision to improve Michigan's economic competitiveness and we were confident that he would get the job done," President and CEO Rich Studley said in a release. "Through his dedication and relentless positive action, Michigan is making a comeback."

The chamber endorsement comes as little surprise. As expected, Schauer already has picked up several union endorsements. These are long-drawn battle lines unlikely to change anytime soon.

Jonathan Oosting is a Capitol reporter for MLive Media Group. Email him, find him on Google+ or follow him on Twitter.