Respectfully submitted by Lawrence E. Rafferty (rafflaw) Weekend Contributor
I have to give Governor Bruce Rauner credit for not taking long to show his hand and publicly attack the Higher Education system in Illinois. It has only been a few weeks since he was inaugurated and he recently unveiled his budget. A budget plan that slashes over $200 million just from the University of Illinois alone.
At the very time Gov. Rauner announced he wants to slash the Higher Education budget for all universities in the State of Illinois by almost a third, he claimed that his budget makes education a priority!
“Higher education is set to take a major hit in Illinois.
Following similar announcements by the Republican governors of Wisconsin and Louisiana, newly-sworn in Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner released what he called a “turnaround” budget, that would slash nearly $209 million from the University of Illinois.” Think Progress
“It’s time to make education our top priority again – and that’s what this budget does,” he told lawmakers Tuesday night, touting his plan to give about $25 million more to early childhood education. “With reform, we will be able to invest more in education and give our kids world class schools.” Think Progress
While the proposed budget increases some funding for K-12 education, the University of Illinois system will lose one-third of its state financing under this budget. This very same proposed budget makes absolutely no mention of any increased revenue sources or plans. What will happen to the University system if these cuts are retained in the final budget?
One can expect the cuts to cause increased fees being charged to students as well as the loss of many educational programs. The result of these massive reductions in state financing will be to transfer the costs to students who are already paying high tuition and fee costs. The loan balances of many students already into the 6 figures and Gov. Rauner’s actions will make sure that student debt will continue to climb in Illinois.
So often the claims that all areas of the State have to share in the burden of digging out of a financial hole ends up with some of the most vulnerable bearing the brunt of that burden. If the Governor is convinced that we all have to sacrifice in this job to balance the budget, why wouldn’t new tax sources be considered along with reasonable cuts?
Will these draconian cuts make it more difficult for students from poor and middle class families to obtain a college education? In this very same budget proposal, Gov. Rauner biggest cuts are aimed directly at those who are least able to afford them.
“Yet the state would spend $400 million less on higher education, $600 million less on local governments, and $1.5 billion less on Medicaid, which handles health care costs for poor residents. University leaders and mayors said they were worried, and advocates for the poor said they feared medical needs would go unmet under deep cuts to Medicaid.” New York Times
When the cities, counties and municipalities raise their taxes to pay for basic services for their residents, who has to pay for those increases? “In many cases, Rauner’s state budget cuts could simply end up shifting costs: local governments could choose to raise property taxes, state universities could raise tuition and the CTA could increase fares.” Chicago Tribune
For a man who spent at least $37 million of his own money to get elected governor, he sure has no problem making the middle class and poor pay more for a college education and for health care and local taxes and transportation costs.
Rauner seems to be following the economic model that worked so “well” for Gov. Brownback in Kansas and Gov. Walker in Wisconsin.
Just how has that austerity approach worked out for Kansas and Wisconsin?
Additional Sources: Examiner.com; Crains Chicago Business
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Sandi
Your state has a financial problem. Your job is to fix it. You don’t break one of your tools needed to fix it.
Well we can only hope that the Idaho legislature doesn’t do away with AP Biology and replaces it with some thing they concocted.
Wadewilliams, temporary means not forever. If you don’t end them, pretty soon you have a need for another temporary tax. There should be some concern about people’s income. Maybe that tax didn’t hit you hard, but there are people who really needed that money. The only way to get additional funds is to increase income tax rates for top earners. As one (the 10%ers), I am not against that.
Inga
It also makes them informed citizens. Lord knows we have a shortage of them.
DBQ
The guy was worried about kids learning about the ‘bad’ America. Yeah, yeah, yeah, state’s rights. Go ahead. Let those idiots make up a curriculum that doesn’t make them nervous.
Even Jindal wanted to get away from the ‘stupid’.
You complain about stupid graduates and yet let these guys get away with this stupidity? I believe you have your fingers crossed when you write you have to read the materials before you can form an opinion. And the additional caveat of having to ‘attend the classes as presented’ is a real beaut.
Sandi, it’s “advanced placement”. The kids get college credits for successfully completing the course. Saves them money and time .
Inga, I think this was the second time I called attention to what I consider uncivil. What is AP history?
Yes, I think States can do a better job educating their citizens. The problem is the money wasted by going to DC, given to Dep of Ed, then some amount back to the States, usually with conditions.
The State was in charge when I went to community college at no cost (except books). I think the more local you fund things the more likely to eliminate waste. There are tiers of people in DC. How did we manage before? CA had “gifted” plans, putting those doing better in different classes requiring more from them. Also different classes for those having difficulty. That required a lot of monitoring. At the local level. Decisions on who were offered these classes were made by the school, with parental agreement.
We have so many laws about everything. How about laws for people with children? Requirements for their kids to be in school. Parental involvement is so important. I know, how on earth do we? Just keep pounding. If receiving benefits from the government, requirement for teacher meetings. And improvement in grades.
There are 102 Counties in Illinois. Rauner won 101 of them! That, is a mandate, “Elections have consequences.” Barack Obama
@ Wade
I haven’t seen the advanced placement curriculum, so I have no opinion on whether the Oklahoma representative is right or wrong. I base my opinions on facts. He may be right. He may be wrong. I don’t know and you don’t either until you read the materials and attend the classes as presented.
I do know that the State has the right to chose not to use it if they wish and they have the right to reject curriculum, such as Common Core, which they have already done.
Govt. unions w/ their hissy fit in Wi.,have turned an average, at best, politician, into a presidential candidate.
DBQ
You are a smart woman. You know that guy in OK was an idiot.
Maybe the govt. unions need to recall Rauner. That worked well a few hundred miles north. LOL!
“Elections have consequences.” Barack Obama
Republican legislatures such as in Oklahoma want to do away with AP History.
That is a misrepresentation. He wants to do away with the FEDERAL AP course that exists because it is slanted and presents a distorted history. (in his opinion) And represents what is BAD about America.
The proposal asks the State Department of Education to find a new U.S. history program in lieu of the AP U.S. history course.
He wants an AP course approved by the Education Department in his State.
As a State’s rights issue, the department of education should be controlled by the States. The Federal Government does not have the enumerated power to control and micromanage education at the State level.
Oh great. IL is still in trouble financially so Rauner’s solution is to halve the tax rate because of ‘Temporary’. Not because a huge problem was fixed, but because that’s what Republicans do – whether it makes sense or not – whether it helps the state or not.
It was thoughtless, careless, mindless and will only hurt the state. It doesn’t paint him as a thoughtful serious governor. He is an irresponsible ideologue.
It wasn’t even necessary politically. The increase was owned by the Democrats. Most citizens understand the problems and were not clamoring for the reduction.
Odd.. So many here call for ‘responsibility’. Guess it doesn’t apply in this case.
http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship/trades/carpentry_millwright.htm
This is the Millwright apprentiship program.
PR, Regarding the drama. Email me @ ndspinelli@hotmail.com. There’s too much of it, and it’s best discussed outside this blog. JT is fed up w/ the soap opera.
Yet we hear that a Republican legislatures such as in Oklahoma want to do away with AP History.
DBQ, So much of this is predicated on “this is the way it’s done.” I propose getting out of the box. Some kids will need the math tutoring. Then use tax dollars to hire tutors or volunteer retired teachers to teach the kids the math, physics, etc. they need. We don’t need brick and mortar schools for this. They can learn online. People who come up w/ these programs are old people who are clueless how young people learn. My son-in-law is getting his Masters in Nursing and it has been almost totally online, w/ internships, on the job, and very limited classrooms. Too much in the box, education industry, bureaucratic thinking. Not you, but here and in politics. I want the govt. out of this. Let private business set this up and run it. They know what type of skilled people they need. Not 5 layers of bureaucrats.
@ Nick
Re Trade Schools: I must disagree with you here. Taking a core of classes that make you able to do the job is really quite important.
A carpenter (for example) needs to understand math concepts and have the skills to execute the math, geometry, physics, have some understanding of the mechanics of electricity and some chemistry. Sure…you can learn on the job how to swing a hammer and cut a 2 x 4. But will you understand the math principles in making a staircase and know the step to rise ratios needed if you are going to change the building plans.
A journeyman carpenter who has to start from square one and teach the basic fundamentals of the above is really really going to be frustrated and so will the student be as well.
Hands on learning is essential, but you MUST have the basics first.