2007 House Bill 4351

Appropriations: 2007-2008 “Research University” Higher Education budget

Introduced in the House

Feb. 28, 2007

Introduced by Rep. Pam Byrnes (D-52)

The executive recommendation for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007-2008 higher education budget for “research” universities, meaning the University of Michigan, Michigan State, and Wayne State. This appropriates $960.2 million in gross spending, all of which comes from the general fund (funded by actual state tax revenues.) In FY 2006-2007, the total budget for all research and non-research universities was $1.787 billion, of which $1.624 billion was general fund money. The comparable figures for FY 2007-2008 are $1.813 billion gross and $1.681 billion general fund. Note: Gov. Jenifer Granholm’s executive budget recommendations are premised on the legislature adopting a 2 percent tax on services which along with other tax increases and a proposed reduction in business taxes represents a net tax hike of approximately $1 billion.

Referred to the Committee on Appropriations

Aug. 22, 2007

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-4) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Aug. 23, 2007

Substitute offered

To replace the executive proposal for this budget with one that expresses the preferences of the House majority on various spending items and funding sources. For more see the House-passed version, and for details see <a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2007-2008/billanalysis/House/pdf/2007-HLA-4351-3.pdf">analysis</a> from the non-partisan House Fiscal Agency.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Reps. Jacob Hoogendyk (R-61) and David Agema (R-74)

To require each university to include in the information it submits to a state higher education data bank ("HEIDI") a record of all spending of state dollars, as well as a list of salaries by job classification. As with other Republican amendments, this one was ultimately defeated when late in the process the House Democratic majority adopted a new "substitute" for the entire bill on a non-record roll call "voice vote".

The amendment failed 63 to 47 (details)

Amendment offered by Rep. David Agema (R-74)

To prohibit state universities from discounting the net tuition and fees paid by an individual illegally residing within this country below the standard nonresident tuition and fee rate. As with other Republican amendments, this one was ultimately defeated when late in the process the House Democratic majority adopted a new "substitute" for the entire bill on a non-record roll call "voice vote".

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Ken Horn (R-94)

To prohibit universities from spending money to lobby or entertain elected officials. As with other Republican amendments, this one was ultimately defeated when late in the process the House Democratic majority adopted a new "substitute" for the entire bill on a non-record roll call "voice vote".

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Reps. Tom Pearce (R-73) and David Agema (R-74)

To prohibit universities from spending money to provide employee benefits to the unmarried partners of employees. As with other Republican amendments, this one was ultimately defeated when late in the process the House Democratic majority adopted a new "substitute" for the entire bill on a non-record roll call "voice vote".

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Tim Moore (R-97)

To require universities to post a sample tuition bill available in electronic internet format on their website, which must include all fees and assessments in addition to tuition and boarding charges. As with other Republican amendments, this one was ultimately defeated when late in the process the House Democratic majority adopted a new "substitute" for the entire bill on a non-record roll call "voice vote".

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Tom Pearce (R-73)

To prohibit universites from spending any money to fund or promote new or expanded activities related to embryonic stem cell research. As with other Republican amendments, this one was ultimately defeated when late in the process the House Democratic majority adopted a new "substitute" for the entire bill on a non-record roll call "voice vote".

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Tim Moore (R-97)

To require universities to make all transfer policies clearly and easily accessible in electronic internet format on their website.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Mike Nofs (R-62)

To make certain university funding contingent on the university adhering to a 3 percent annual tuition increase cap. As with other Republican amendments, this one was ultimately defeated when late in the process the House Democratic majority adopted a new "substitute" for the entire bill on a non-record roll call "voice vote".

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. David Agema (R-74)

To establish as the the intent of the legislature that universities not spend money on a project or equipment intended for or to accommodate specific religious purposes. This comes after a controversy involving the University of Michigan's Dearborn Campus planning to spend $100,000 on foot-washing stations in restrooms for Moslem students whose religion requires them to wash their feet and hands before praying. As with other Republican amendments, this one was ultimately defeated when late in the process the House Democratic majority adopted a new "substitute" for the entire bill on a non-record roll call "voice vote".

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. David Agema (R-74)

To prohibit universities from spending money on activities which include a display of human waste on religious symbols, nudity, profane language, a display of a sex act, or a depiction of flag desecration. As with other Republican amendments, this one was ultimately defeated when late in the process the House Democratic majority adopted a new "substitute" for the entire bill on a non-record roll call "voice vote".

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Virgil Smith (D-7)

To require universities to admit any high school graduate finishing in the top 10 percent of his or her class in either junior or senior year. This practice is seen as a substitute for banned racial preferences in admissions, which were prohibited by the 2006 Proposal 2 Constitutional Amendment. The amendment was ultimately not incuded in the House-passed version because of a parliamentary maneuver late in the process of adopting a new "substitute" for the entire bill without any of the previously passed amendments.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Substitute offered by Rep. Steve Tobocman (D-12)

To adopt a new substitute version of the bill that does not include the mostly Republican amendments previously offered and passed.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 57 to 52 (details)

The House version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007-2008 higher education budget for “research” universities, meaning the University of Michigan, Michigan State, and Wayne State. This appropriates $1.027 billion in gross spending, all of which comes from the general fund (funded by actual state tax revenues.) When delays in previous year disbursements are considered that pushed some of those appropriations into this budget, the net increase in funding is around 5 percent over the previous fiscal year, divided unevenly among the various universities. Note: As with all House Budgets, this one authorizes spending well in excess of projected revenues, and is based on the presumption of a substantial tax increase.

Received in the Senate

Aug. 30, 2007

Referred to the Committee on Appropriations