A college scholarship program that had been on the budget chopping block this year could get a reprieve if a state senator gets his way, The Denver Post reports.

Gov. Bill Ritter’s administration had proposed draining $45.2 million from the CollegeInvest Early Achievers Scholarship Trust Fund as a way to help balance the budget.

Ritter, a Democrat, had asked lawmakers for approval to take $29.8 million from the scholarship fund to help balance the budget and to use a remaining $15.4 million for need-based financial aid.