Some estimates even show the amount of freed state money closer to $150 million, made available if enough GOP senators give the nod for state medical coverage to be extended to more than 300,000 low-income Michiganians as part of the Affordable Care Act.

Money the state spends on those already insured would be freed as those and many others have their state health care paid for by the federal government. The tab for extending coverage to the more than 300,000 uninsured would also be picked up by the federal government, at least for the first three years. After that, the federal government will pay for 90 percent of the cost.

Robert McCann, communications director for the Senate Democrats, said Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer of East Lansing would like much of it to go toward higher ed.

But some say they doubt universities will see much of that freed coin, if any.

For example, Mike Boulus, executive director of the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan, the association made up of representatives from the state’s 15 public universities — said the last state revenue surplus could’ve helped, but the $480 million went to roads and a “rainy day fund,” or money to be saved for a potential funding emergency, instead of university funding.

“They gave higher priority to potholes and rainy day fund then they did for us,” Boulus said.

Boulus said it might have been because of a perceived political unfairness in doing so.

“If you gave us more money you’d have to give K-12 and community colleges more money,” Boulus said.

He fears the same fate for universities in the latest funding grab.