Rep. Milne: Democrats jeopardize higher ed funding

Higher Education Funding in Jeopardy

By Rep. Duane D. Milne

Both as a state representative and an educator, I am outraged by the political stunt being pulled with the state budget by the leaders of the Democrat Party in the state House of Representatives, who currently control the agenda in the House. Recently approved House Bill 1416 is a short-term stunt that, if left unchallenged, will wreak devastating long-term effects on Pennsylvania's higher education system, our critical workforce development needs, and even our very economic competitiveness as a state. Simply put, House Bill 1416 is an irresponsible political ploy.

What's happening is that the House Democratic leadership is forcing through a state budget bill (House Bill 1416) that allegedly balances the state's budget and miraculously "solves" the state's $3 billion dollar budget deficit. Problem is, this bill "solves" the problem by eliminating state funding for all state universities and community colleges as well as the state share of funding for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), which is an irreplaceable source of low-interest loans for students and their families.

That's right: completely stripping these entities of their state funding. Absent any state funding, students' tuition would have to triple to make up for this uncalled for revocation of revenue. When pressed for answers as to if and how higher education will be funded, the only response from these Democrat leaders is essentially: don't worry about it, we'll deal with it another day (i.e., there is no plan). That's not leadership, and that's not responsible policymaking.

What's particularly disturbing about this development is its timing. From the very beginning of this budget process, the budget plan for higher education was one area, in the midst of otherwise contentious debates, in which clear and strong consensus had been arrived at as to what level of funding is reasonable and appropriate in this fiscal year. The two separate chambers, the House and the Senate generally were in agreement, and so were Republicans and rank-and-file Democrats. And the higher education community uttered nary a complaint; these stakeholders considered their intended allocation quite fair given the extraordinarily difficult budget year. So, in other words, this part of the budget was basically resolved and it was just a matter of moving on and working toward compromise for the other parts of the budget.

However, this bill suddenly and inexplicably rammed through the House Appropriations Committee at the eleventh hour by these Democrat leaders has shattered this reasonable consensus and does nothing to resolve the budget dilemma our state does face. With the start of the next semester just weeks away, students and their families are now unwitting pawns in the brinksmanship unfolding here in Harrisburg over how to close the deficit and enable the Legislature to meet its constitutional obligation to balance the state budget.

Many believe this plan is also connected with ongoing efforts to force expanded gambling in the state, a scheme which I oppose. In earlier education funding plans, legalization of so-called video poker gambling, and now also proposals to approve table gaming in the state, has been put forth as an alleged "solution" to funding higher education. I have been, and continue to be, opposed to expanding gambling in our state, especially given the machinations to make education funding dependent upon it. This would be a misguided approach to education policy, a quick fix with too many long-term negative consequences, and a bad example for our kids.

I am calling on the Democrat leaders in the House, who currently control the agenda, to end the political charade and to restore the higher education funding in the state budget. The debate over expanded gambling is a separate matter altogether. This is an issue of fairness to Pennsylvania students and their families, and to the institutions of higher education in the state.

Rep. Duane D. Milne is a Republican who represents the 167th House Dist. and is also a political science professor at West Chester University.