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State Senators to come to Ann Arbor for hearing

State budget priorities and higher education funding are scheduled for debate in Ann Arbor, rather than in senate chambers tomorrow.

Following the release of Gov. John Engler's 1996-97 budget, members of the State Senate Appropriations Committee are scheduled to hold a hearing on campus tomorrow as part of their information gathering across the state. State Sens. Joe Schwartz (R-Battle Creek) and Jon Cisky (R-Saginaw) and Alma Wheeler-Smith (D-Salem Twp.) will hear testimony from University representatives regarding the state's higher education funding.

The committee is visiting "to listen to testimony about the governor's proposal, which this year of course, is a very good proposal," said Walter Harrison, vice president for University relations.

Harrison said Schwartz, the chair of the higher education subcommittee, scheduled four hearings around the state to hear testimony from various educational associations and state and independent colleges.

Tomorrow's meeting at the Michigan League is the committee's first hearing this year; representatives from the University, Wayne State University, the Michigan Education Association and the American Association of University Professors will have the opportunity to make presentations and to answer questions from committee members.

Considering Engler's 4.4-percent increase in higher education funding and several other incentives, the University will benefit from the budget proposal, asserted Andy Schor, chair of the Michigan Student Assembly External Relations Committee.

Schor and SNRE Rep. Karie Morgan are scheduled to testify at the hearing.

"If this is the governor's budget, we hope the state government stays this favorable -- don't stray," Schor said, describing the theme of the testimony he plans to present.

Although University representatives have made pleas for more funding or education programs at similar hearings in the past, Harrison said this year's testimony will be different. President James Duderstadt and Provost J. Bernard Machen will address issues surrounding the University's undergraduate education and the capital outlay -- "the money that the state and other sources provide to build and renovate buildings," Harrison said.

In addition, Harrison said, Duderstadt will speak on "our efforts to control the costs of higher education."

The hearing is open to the public and is scheduled to be held in the Hussey Room of the Michigan League at 10 a.m.