Mich. GOP Votes to Fine Colleges for Same-Sex Benefits

Michigan's House has approved an amendment to the education budget that would penalize state universities and colleges five percent for offering domestic partner benefits to same-sex and unmarried partners.

State Rep. Dave Agema (pictured) posted the following update on his Facebook page Thursday night: "I had an amendment put into the education budget that takes 5% away from colleges that give same-sex/unmarried benefits and places up to $60 million of that into the MPSRS K-12 budget if colleges do not stop skirting the law and the will of the people. Colleges can't say they are short of money when they skirt the law and give such benefits. The Dems didn't like this - it passed."

The approved budget cuts millions of dollars in state funding from the K-12 system and shifts some funding to the state's community colleges.

Both bills will now head to a conference committee where they will be combined into a final bill.