Re: Protect Higher Ed
1) Speaking for myself personally, I have NOT been sitting on my hands. I've tried to be as involved and out-spoken as any non-legislator/non-lobbyist citizen with a full-time private sector job and family can be in regards to state government.Originally Posted by CajunFun
2) Governor Jindal is not the only one to blame (though he sure deserves a "fair share") for Higher Ed and healthcare funding "falling behind". The vast majority of your state legislators deserve every bit as much blame. Sure, they'll hold townhall meetings and run to the media complaining that the Governor is "gutting" Higher Ed and healthcare, but they themselves are allowing it to happen. They allow their votes to be bought off with state-funding for their local re-election pet projects.
One specific example (there are other examples): During the 2010 Regular Session, State Rep. John Schroder proposed an amendment to HB 1 (Operating Budget) striking out all local/NGO projects out of the budget. The thought was that if the state was running out of money to properly fund Higher Ed, then it sure can't afford to fund non-state government projects and organizations. He argued that money should be diverted to other state responsibilities during the shortfall, such as Higher Ed.
The amendment failed 22-70. Take a good look at those NO votes:
http://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/ViewDo...713400&n=House Vote on HB 1, AMENDMENT A-34, MOTION TO ADOPT (#1188)
A few of those legislators in that NO column have since then "seen the light", but the number is still way too small. You should be blaming the self-serving legislators on both sides of the aisle who continue to play this game, not just the vote-buying 4th Floor.
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