Committee head proposes bills to give MSU, U-M, Wayne cash apart from other schools. The proposal to fund Michigan\'s three largest universities separately from the state\'s other 12 is gaining support in Lansing. Already endorsed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, the leader of an influential appropriations committee now has introduced two bills to allow Wayne State University, Michigan State University, and University of Michigan special consideration in the budget process. The separate funding plan distinguishes the mission of the so-called \"Big Three\" universities from the rest and \"really sends a message nationally that Michigan is recognizing research and we are promoting its research institutions,\" said Rep. Pam Byrnes, D-Chelsea, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education. For the second straight year, presidents of the three universities jointly testified before lawmakers to request that they be funded separately from the state\'s other 12 public schools. They explained Wednesday how their medical schools, technology transfer programs and $1.3 billion in research and development operations make them different. \"The state is getting something from these three institutions that they can\'t get from the others,\" Wayne State University President Irvin D. Reid said.