By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
LANSING, MI – Governor Granholm says eliminating the Michigan Promise college scholarship is an unacceptable option for helping to balance the budget.
The Michigan Promise scholarship helps thousands of students and their families with money for college or job-training after high school. Senate Republicans say dropping the scholarship will save the state $140 million that's badly needed to retire a growing budget deficit.
The governor says Michigan's small number of college graduates is dragging down the state's economy. She says getting more people through college is a key part of her strategy for attracting well-paying jobs to Michigan: "If we are going to double the number of college graduates, we need to provide the means to make that happen."
The Promise scholarship is now one of many details that are part of the budget talks that are expected to drag into the summer.