Protect Higher Ed

[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/

[CajunFun]

This from a retired UL faculty member working on the petition:

Our petition asking Governor Jindal and state legislators to restore funding to our Louisiana universities is getting media attention. It has garnered nearly 2000 signatures so far, and new signers are still appearing. This morning I did a telephone interview with Red River Radio explaining the purpose of the petition and the consequences of not adequately funding our institutions of higher education. I hope the interview will take us over the 2000 mark. Your help is much appreciated.

[cajunhawk]

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/

That god for John Alario, what would the bustling metropolis of Westwego do without their Alario Complex?

[BeauCajun]

That god for John Alario, what would the bustling metropolis of Westwego do without their Alario Complex?

Yep, heaven forbid that the Hornets/Pelicans would have to practice in one of the JPRD gyms.

[CajunFan3406]

Yep, heaven forbid that the Hornets/Pelicans would have to practice in one of the JPRD gyms.

Ah JPRD. Brings back memories of Biddy Basketball tournaments.

[CajunFun]

The trend throughout the nation is for more private and less public/government support for our universities.

We are going through that adjustment period, and I hope that our educational leaders are up to the task.

Performance of RCAF and the UL Foundation & Alumni Association are becoming more critical than ever.

It's interesting that people say run govt like a business. But the reason you run a business in the first place is so that you can manage your family, and your nation.

In what good agribusiness do you sell off the seed stock? And in what good family do you cut back on the kids' education?

In our family, the kids' education is a very high priority, only falling behind the kids' food, clothing, shelter and health. We'll sell everything to make sure our kids get the education they need.

Well, if government's a business we know that every dollar increase in tuition results in some calculable decrease in enrollment. And every drop in higher ed enrollment decreases long-term earning for the state. By quite a lot.

Louisiana has lagged behind all other states in higher education funding, and now we are falling further behind.

At the same time, our state has not grown in the past 25 years while the states across the South are growing quickly, and our employment numbers have not budged in years.

[Boomer]

Yea but the key thing that is immediately needed is to change the constitution to allow across the board or selective cuts and not have anything off the table----the Fed also needs to come to a point where the cutting is done prudently across broad areas and get rid of this "Base line Budgeting" where an auto price is raised for the next years budget---only in Washington is a 4% raise a cut for some items---And Doc will always be one of those liberals you love!!!!