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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When greedy, slimy, Dem pols are trying to push though more taxes on people who work for a living, they always say that if they don’t get their new taxes, they will have to cut police and fire protection. That’s always their first cuts. Scare the hell outta people. We could cut govt. 50% throughout this country and things would be just fine. Let everyone get acclimated for a year or so, and then cut 50% again. That would be a good start.
Anybody want to guess about the outcomes of Paul’s idea? I’m guessing Americans would rather graduate doctors without any biology credits before they are willing to cut sports.
Wadewilliams – there is a Harold Lloyd silent called “The Freshman” in which one of the intertitle cards describes a university as a football stadium surrounded by classrooms. 🙂
However, most taxpayers would be willing to lose “The Problem with Whiteness” which is being taught at ASU.
Inga,
When was Rafflaw put on probation? Maybe it was a double secret probation, huh?
Max
Services? Roads? Transportation? Health? Universities?
All a waste according to Republicans.
Darren Smith
Cuts to waste are better than cuts to service.
= = =
And when the services are seen as a waste?
Max-1 – when businesses have financial difficulties they often ‘downsize.’ Is there any reason that universities and colleges cannot do the same. If I read this correctly, the universities will be able to make their own cuts as long as they come in on the new budget line. So, if they want to get rid of intercollegiate sports, they could do that. Or if they wanted to close the Philosophy Dept instead, they could do that.
Steve H.
hmmmmm. There’s an element of familiarity in your comment. What could it be? Oh, I remember! Something about someone winning the election and the sore losers should get over it.
Steve? You’ve had six years to get over Obama. They could at least have six weeks to get over Rauner – whose first act is to increase the stupidity of their citizens so that they can be as stupid as the OK legislators.
Everybody give a shout out for Republicans who admire nothing so much as ignorance!
Rafflaw was on “probation”? Huh? LOL.
But, I would give vouchers to poor families and let them choose their school.
Jack, Good to see a person from the Land of Lincoln w/ common sense.
It’s about time we began to re-prioritize Illinois spending. The academically qualified and adequately motivated will find a way using — scholarships, family resources and that old unfamiliar thing called hard work. The rest can hone their limited abilities appropriately closer to home.
It is far more important to improve funding of early education so that ALL those with real potential can be recognized and developed.
Is everybody following Rauner’s plan? This is how it goes…
Rauner: Illinois can’t pay its bills.
Citizen: What’s your plan, Gov?
Rauner: Cut income taxes 50%
Oh, and another thing, Rafflaw. Rayner won the election; you lost. Sore loser.
“Reigned in” is incorrect. Universities help.
Very pleasant.
Cuts to waste are better than cuts to service. I think when any cost cutting is made it should be at a higher priority to find inefficiencies first.
One aspect I have noted is that some government institutions have problems with what is referred in the private sector as “empire building”. that is, were management is not reigned in with regard to adding more employees and infrastructure that is unnecessary to either promote themselves through growing their importance or to make purchases that are not necessary to the core function of the organization.
The above is certainly not the only way matter if it is in fact the case here with this state.
Some of these institutions and politicians often fail to recognize the “why are we here” factor and instead focus on government for bureaucracy sake, or politics for politician’s sake.
There is much fat to be cut. But cut the fat not the trim. Start with sports. Illinois cannot afford to play Iowa in football or basketball right now. Compete with China in Math and science.
Revenue=TAXES in Democrat Orwellian speak.
BTW, the Illinois income tax rate was cut in half on January 1, 2015 per Rauner’s wishes.
Another great idea brought to you by the Republicans…slash revenue and then slash universities. That’s their recipe for building an Exceptional America.
It’s all part of our American Exceptionalism. To hell with higher education.
Nonsense like this topic are why blogs are slowly dying.