By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
LANSING, MI – It appears Michigan's community colleges may survive the budget debate at the state Capitol without any budget cuts.
The House and Senate budget committee dealing with funding for community colleges unanimously approved a budget bill that maintains current spending.
Democratic Representative Fred Miller chaired the committee.
"I think people recognize, people of every persuasion and political stripe recognize that community colleges are so important to transforming Michigan's economy - retraining workers who have lost their jobs, helping folks with remedial education, helping craft specific training programs for companies, and doing so much to diversify our economy," he said.
Meanwhile the Michigan Promise college scholarship was eliminated from the budget approved by the higher education committee. But many House Democrats have maintained they will not vote for a budget that eliminates the scholarship.