Part of the proposed budget cuts for the Coos Bay School District includes cutting the maintenance and repairs in half, for campuses such as Marshfield High School shown here, the district would only do projects for legal or safety reasons. World File Photo

PORTLAND (AP) - A plan offered by Oregon House Speaker Karen Minnis to stabilize the state's see-saw school funding has bogged down amid political opposition.

Minnis, a Republican, wants to dedicate 51 percent of personal income taxes to schools. If taxes grow faster than 9 percent in the two-year budget cycle, the extra would go to school improvement grants and a rainy-day fund to protect schools in an economic downturn.

The plan drew support from school boards and administrators, who say that it at least provides "predictability."

That, said John Marshall of the Oregon School Boards Association "is our highest priority."

Minnis formed a work group with legislators from both parties and some outside groups, including the Oregon Education Association, which represents teachers.

But the consensus-building attempts seem to have failed, and now there's plenty of finger-pointing going on.

"The OEA has done everything it can to stomp on this bill," said Minnis, noting the union's ties to the Democrats.

Chip Terhune, a teachers union lobbyist, said his group is willing to work with Minnis, but that the current plan is "institutionalizing cuts for schools."

Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, and Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown, D-Portland, both say they haven't talked in detail with Minnis about her plan.

Minnis said she is not ready to give up on her plan.