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F.Y. '10 AT THE BRINK: HIGHER ED, GEN. GOV'T VOTES RAZOR THIN On very narrow margins, the House cleared two critical votes in resolving the 2009-10 budget - higher education and general government - on a mixture of cuts and federal stimulus but no taxes. The chamber voted on the higher education budget Wednesday morning, passing it on a 57-51 vote. The Senate followed up on HB 4441 <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=legislation_billdetail.cfm&code=H B%204441&billid=2009HB444101&locid=1> <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=legislation_querymanager.cfm&loci d=1&SR=1&Session=2009&BillType=HB&BillNum=4441> with a vote of 19-18 with Sen. Bruce Patterson <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=15601&locid=1> (R-Canton) and Sen. Wayne Kuipers <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=24601&locid=1> (R-Holland) joining Democrats opposing. "It was a difficult budget," said Sen. Tony Stamas <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=27401&locid=1> (R-Midland), chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, in reluctantly recommending senators support the bill. But Sen. Deborah Cherry <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=23101&locid=1> (D-Burton) said the loss of the Promise Grant would deeply hurt Michigan students. "We're eliminating one of the strongest programs for tuition assistance," she said. "There are many people who worked hard to be eligible for these funds." Fifteen House Democrats supported the measure: Rep. Ed Clemente <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=78501&locid=1> (D-Lincoln Park), Rep. George Cushingberry Jr. <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=34401&locid=1> (D-Detroit), Speaker Andy Dillon <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=105001&locid=1> (D-Redford Twp.), Rep. John Espinoza <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=83701&locid=1> (D-Croswell), Rep. Richard Hammel <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=172301&locid=1> (D-Flushing), Rep. Michael Lahti <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=156701&locid=1> (D-Hancock), Rep. Richard LeBlanc <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=168001&locid=1> (D-Westland), Rep. Gary McDowell <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=74601&locid=1> (D-Rudyard), Rep. Mark Meadows <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=155901&locid=1> (D-East Lansing), Rep. Tim Melton <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=170301&locid=1> (D-Auburn Hills), Rep. Roy Schmidt <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=205201&locid=1> (D-Grand Rapids), Rep. Mike Simpson <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=2801&locid=1> (D-Jackson), Rep. Jim Slezak <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=225701&locid=1> (D-Davison), Rep. Dudley Spade <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=19401&locid=1> (D-Franklin Twp.) and Rep. Jon Switalski <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=211501&locid=1> (D-Warren). Republicans had only one member jump ship on the vote; Rep. Sharon Tyler <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=210001&locid=1> (R-Niles) opposed the bill that includes the elimination of the Promise Grant to college students. Rep. Fred Miller <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=79401&locid=1> (D-Mount Clemens), who opposed the budget, said he was troubled that his party is in the majority yet it is making decisions to cut programs "we used to stand for." "It feels like a total betrayal," he said.