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(Left to right) State Representatives Fred Miller (Mount Clemens), George Cushingberry Jr. (Detroit) and Mike Simpson (Jackson) work on the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives on Thursday, September 17, 2009. The lawmakers serve on the House Appropriations Committee and were appointed on Thursday to bipartisan conference committees that will work to balance the state budget.

LANSING – House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.) today named a bipartisan group of lawmakers to 15 conference committees to hammer out the details of how to make the deep cuts necessary to balance the state budget. The State Senate is expected to appoint its conferees to the House-Senate committees today.

"These conferees on both sides of the aisle will have the difficult task of negotiating painful cuts and moving the budget process forward while also looking for ways to ensure that Michigan retains its focus on becoming a competitive force in the 21st century economy," Dillon said. "I have confidence that they will find a way to reach common ground on a plan that both chambers can work with."

House Democrats are prepared to move a budget with deep cuts as a necessary first step toward balancing the state budget. However, these cuts will in no way be enough to position Michigan for the future and revitalize its economy.

House Democrats remain committed to funding programs that are fundamental for the future and safety of our residents, economy and state. These priorities include K-12 education, scholarships including the Michigan Promise, local police and fire protection, and health care for kids and seniors.

"Our focus will continue to be on protecting our most vulnerable residents, creating jobs and getting Michigan's economy back on track," Dillon said. "Investing in these priorities is critical to moving our state forward."

State Representatives named to the conference committees are as follows:

• Agriculture (SB 237): Espinoza, McDowell, Lori
• Community Colleges (HB 4435): Miller, Bauer, Booher
• Community Health (HB 4436): McDowell, Hammel, Green
• Corrections (HB 4437): Smith, Durhal, Proos
• Economic Development (SB 243): Hammel, Switalski, Rogers
• Environmental Quality/Natural Resources (HB 4446): Lahti, Espinoza, Booher
• General Government (SB 245): Durhal, Cushingberry, Rogers
• Higher Education (HB 4441): Bauer, Cushingberry, Caul
• Human Services (SB 248): Spade, Tlaib, Agema
• Judiciary (SB 249): Tlaib, T. Brown, Schuitmaker
• School Aid (HB 4447): T. Brown, Cushingberry, Moss
• Education (HB 4438): T. Brown, Cushingberry, Moss
• State Police (SB 253): LeBlanc, Espinoza, Genetski
• Military and Veterans Affairs (SB 250): LeBlanc, Espinoza, Genetski
• Transportation (SB 254): Gonzales, LeBlanc, Agema