LANSING – A bill providing spending for all aspects of state government other than K-12 schools, higher education and community colleges passed the Michigan House and Senate Thursday and will head to Governor Rick Snyder for his signature.
But the Legislature will not complete today the school omnibus bill dealing with the education spending programs as an agreement on higher education remains elusive. The House-Senate conference committee on HB 5372, scheduled for 6 p.m., is expected to be canceled, and discussions on higher education will continue into next week. The Senate has just adjourned until Tuesday.
The Legislature will miss its self-imposed deadline of completing the budget by June 1.
Many senators want to attend the visitation for the son of Sen. Goeff Hansen (R-Hart), who died last week. Those services take place this evening and tomorrow.
Earlier today, Rep. Bob Genetski (R-Saugatuck), chair of the House Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee, said reaching an agreement on what standards the state?s 15 public universities must meet to get a cut of an overall 3 percent increase remains the problem.
The administration, House and Senate all have different approaches on that issue. Any time two of the three agree on an approach, the third tends to recoil, Genetski said. The administration, House and Senate all have different approaches on that issue. Any time two of the three agree on an approach, the third tends to recoil, Genetski said.
HB 5365 passed the House 61-49 and 20-16 in the Senate.
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