Protect Higher Ed

[Zeebart21]

Guys, if you want T-Joe to put more money into athletics, he needs more money on the academic side. Our funding is approaching twice Tech's, this is a chance to put them away.

Higher ed is only about 3% of the state budget. It would be very easy for the state to protect higher ed.

Here's a petition you can sign: http://signon.org/sign/support-higher-education.fb23

Fun, I got your phone call last week.. Apologies for not returning it yet. Will do it soon.. Hope the chirrens is good??

Z

[MelRock]

I have know problem with athletics funding them self, but the cost of a college education should reflect its value. A college education in Louisiana is dirt cheap compared to other states.

[Cajunrunner]

I have know problem with athletics funding them self, but the cost of a college education should reflect its value. A college education in Louisiana is dirt cheap compared to other states.

One could question if the cost of a college education is over-priced in other states. Or if there some median between LA's cheap cost and the higher states.

Compare the rising costs of college tuition vs. inflation. Makes absolutely no sense.

[CRAWFISH61]

Maybe other states should look at why there tuition is so expensive. I know people with out of state degrees from a small local public college comparable to McNeese or Nichols and they are 20k plus in debt. Today's college graduate is starting out life many times under a huge mountain of debt. This is one of the reason's my daughter is going to UL. She will emerge debt free and between what she saves and our contribution hopefully will graduate from grad school debt free also.

[Just1More]

Guys, if you want T-Joe to put more money into athletics, he needs more money on the academic side. Our funding is approaching twice Tech's, this is a chance to put them away.

Higher ed is only about 3% of the state budget. It would be very easy for the state to protect higher ed.

Here's a petition you can sign: http://signon.org/sign/support-higher-education.fb23

Fun, have you scrutinized the overall state budget system? I'm curious what percentage of the budget is currently protected and what percent is unprotected, when these budget hits occur. Do we even have enough flexability in the unprotected side to always balance our budget? What percentage of our budget could truly be called "pet projects" or governor/legislature discretionary type of spending? If higher education is only 3% of the budget, can the group that is trying to protect it, identify the areas that would be more appropriately designated as unprotected? Instead of simply putting forth a "protect higher education" petition, are there people giving the legislature the precise demands for what areas shouldn't be protected? Everyone always says, "pet projects" and such... but I doubt they know what they are up against in our political structure.

Is there some category of "pet projects" that can be easily identified? And would it not be much more effective to not only argue to protect higher education but let the public know what alternatives the state has? Our state representatives and our governor don't get much local political traction (and for our governor... national political power) out of cutting their "I'll give you this if you'll give me that" BS and higher education is this large nebulous entity to them that doesn't give many of them their independent political shot in the arm. So, in order to truly get this done, I think the mission needs to push the mass pet project system into the "unprotected species" at the same time higher education gets identified as the next "protected species". Don't you think?

And how is this a "put Tech away" agenda? I know some don't think Tech is an institution of higher education... but "protect higher ed" also helps Tech. I don't see where adding this in your petition would rally anyone but a complete knucklehead. Is that what you were doing? Trying to get the knucklehead's vote too?

[Cajunrunner]

What percentage of our budget could truly be called "pet projects" or governor/legislature discretionary type of spending?

Is there some category of "pet projects" that can be easily identified? And would it not be much more effective to not only argue to protect higher education but let the public know what alternatives the state has? Our state representatives and our governor don't get much local political traction (and for our governor... national political power) out of cutting their "I'll give you this if you'll give me that" BS and higher education is this large nebulous entity to them that doesn't give many of them their independent political shot in the arm. So, in order to truly get this done, I think the mission needs to push the mass pet project system into the "unprotected species" at the same time higher education gets identified as the next "protected species". Don't you think?

Look up House Bill 2, the version that becomes an ACT signed by the Governor. That's our Capital Outlay budget bill. Scroll down, see all the projects that have NOTHING to do with state government (parish/municipal roads, community centers, downtown "redevelopments") or even government at all, such as arts centers, ballparks, councils on aging, festivals, etc.

Easily tens of millions, if not over $100 Million, in projects that are lined Priority 1 or 2. That is how Governors buy votes, from Edwards all the way to Jindal. Despite talks of reforms in Baton Rouge, the current administration has actually furthered this dishonest process, rather than doing anything to stifle it.

Of course, we don't see Higher Ed officials/university presidents trying to help the taxpayers against this process in order to keep cuts to their schools a minimum. Nope. Instead we just hear some of them whining about not enough revenue and the need to bring back the Stelly income tax increases.

[CajunT]

Look up House Bill 2, the version that becomes an ACT signed by the Governor. That's our Capital Outlay budget bill. Scroll down, see all the projects that have NOTHING to do with state government (parish/municipal roads, community centers, downtown "redevelopments") or even government at all, such as arts centers, ballparks, councils on aging, festivals, etc.

Easily tens of millions, if not over $100 Million, in projects that are lined Priority 1 or 2. That is how Governors buy votes, from Edwards all the way to Jindal. Despite talks of reforms in Baton Rouge, the current administration has actually furthered this dishonest process, rather than doing anything to stifle it.

Of course, we don't see Higher Ed officials/university presidents trying to help the taxpayers against this process in order to keep cuts to their schools a minimum. Nope. Instead we just hear some of them whining about not enough revenue and the need to bring back the Stelly income tax increases.

Higher education is now facing the reality of what most companies, large or small has been going through since the economic downturn. They now have to make difficult decisions concerning department cuts and eliminating actual positions. While UL has had to live with tight budgets for many years, no thanks in small part to local politicians that thought it important to keep the university tuition affordable for as many as possible, this was not the norm nationwide. In fact, when one measures the percentage of cost increase to healthcare insurance over the past decade, college tuition has risen at a higher rate. But of course there was no outrage nationally over it because government found a way to help increase the availability of student loans nationwide. The increase in student’s loans has been a huge boondoggle for colleges across the country that otherwise would have seen a huge decrease in student enrollment with the economic downturn. I know some won’t agree with me, but universities across the country receive millions in research grants from the government, all subsidized by taxes from your average American. I may be one of the few here, but I don’t believe higher education should be protected from cuts. There is still too much waste in the average university system and why should these institutions be protected from the very social and economic policies they have supported in large numbers? If we are all going to share in the pain, then why not the very people that helped cultivate the current ideology and economic policies of our national elected officials today?

[Cajunrunner]

Higher education is now facing the reality of what most companies, large or small has been going through since the economic downturn. They now have to make difficult decisions concerning department cuts and eliminating actual positions. While UL has had to live with tight budgets for many years, no thanks in small part to local politicians that thought it important to keep the university tuition affordable for as many as possible, this was not the norm nationwide. In fact, when one measures the percentage of cost increase to healthcare insurance over the past decade, college tuition has risen at a higher rate. But of course there was no outrage nationally over it because government found a way to help increase the availability of student loans nationwide. The increase in student’s loans has been a huge boondoggle for colleges across the country that otherwise would have seen a huge decrease in student enrollment with the economic downturn. I know some won’t agree with me, but universities across the country receive millions in research grants from the government, all subsidized by taxes from your average American. I may be one of the few here, but I don’t believe higher education should be protected from cuts. There is still too much waste in the average university system and why should these institutions be protected from the very social and economic policies they have supported in large numbers? If we are all going to share in the pain, then why not the very people that helped cultivate the current ideology and economic policies of our national elected officials today?

BRAVO, Sir.

My only rebuttal would be that state government should not cut state responsibilities (Higher Ed, healthcare) in favor of local government and NGO projects that should be handled at other levels of responsibility. Why should the state fund $9 Million for the Jefferson Parish Arts Center (that thing has been a boondoggle from the start) while cutting funding for state universities and health centers?

Now, once you've ceased state funding for all these local and NGO projects, if more cuts still need to be made, then Higher Ed and all other state agencies should share in the burden.

[CajunT]

BRAVO, Sir.

My only rebuttal would be that state government should not cut state responsibilities (Higher Ed, healthcare) in favor of local government and NGO projects that should be handled at other levels of responsibility. Why should the state fund $9 Million for the Jefferson Parish Arts Center (that thing has been a boondoggle from the start) while cutting funding for state universities and health centers?

Now, once you've ceased state funding for all these local and NGO projects, if more cuts still need to be made, then Higher Ed and all other state agencies should share in the burden.

We are in 100% agreement here sir. How about private lakes and golf courses? Its beyond time to clean up the mess of these pork projects and allow us to keep our taxes locally.

[Cajunrunner]

Francis Thompson's lakes and John Alario's golf courses? Oh, crap, forgot...our "reform" Governor anointed Alario our new Senate President.

No wonder this comes with absolutely zero surprise.

http://www.ballot-access.org/2013/02...nning-in-1976/