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 I’m losing I go have a drink.”
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No surprise. Can I still get some stock in your favorite adult beverage?
I’m a pretty good gambler. Probably my biggest strength in gambling is knowing when to walk away. When I’m losing I go have a drink. That’s another strength, they give away drinks in casinos for a reason! I buy my own after gambling. But, you can always spot the losers. They’re the ones who just don’t have the ability, for whatever reason, to see they’re in a losing streak and need to just walk away. They double and triple down. They just can’t walk away. Compulsivity is tough to watch.
UW Madison # 47. UNH # 99.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/university-of-new-hampshire-2589
Sorry, Paul, I don’t follow your every word with rapt attention. I do wonder where your facts come from in the first place only to have to “walk ’em back” when challenged.
mespo – think of my walking it back as an attorney mispeaking in court.
John John flunked the NY bar exam twice. When I worked for the prosecutor’s office in KC we always had interns from the UMKC, U of Missouri, and KU law schools interning. They had to pass the bar exam to be hired on as prosecutors. The results were always announced on a Saturday morning. A female prosecutor friend would have a champagne breakfast on those Saturday mornings. Most were great. But, a couple times the intern did not pass. Those were not so great parties.
Elaine, I suspect there are some very bitter residents of Madison. It must be tough living in a University town and not making the grade, literally, to get in the University in one’s own city.
Hillary flunked the DC bar exam. But, moved to Arkansas, married a sexual sociopath, and was able to pass the Arkansas Bar Exam.
And, we just got a link from the Education Industry sycophant. Perfect! Never rely on her links. Just Google it yourself.
Diploma privileges are an archaic system of granting attorneys bar entrance. At one time, over 30 states had them. So, if you graduated from say a DC, Ca., Montana, etc. law school, your diploma made you automatically a member of the bar in that state. Beginning in the early 1900’s, states began doing away w/ this incestuous practice that produced incompetent attorneys. Ca. was one of the first to abandon the practice in 1917. The very old boys club of Wi. is the only state still w/ this broad privilege. New Hampshire has a modified, limited, diploma privilege if you graduate from U of H. I have 2 nieces and a cousin who graduated from U of H. However, I am not depending upon them for my information. I am relying on my over 30 years experience working w/ attorneys in Wi., and using objective sources. They are easily found. Just Google “Diploma Privilege” and you can get non anecdotal and accurate information.
http://www.wolffsonderhouse.com/MilwaukeeattorneyBlog/2013May7
Excerpt:
By diploma privilege being upheld the Supreme Court was stating that they have confidence in Wisconsin law schools and that a bar exam is deemed unnecessary in the courts eyes. There are other requirements that Marquette and Wisconsin students must complete in order to receive the diploma privilege, all students must pass a set of required classes that encompass the basic topics that would be covered on a State bar exam. Each individual must also complete the Character and Fitness application and the State Bar must approve them in order to be sworn in before the court.
The reason that Wisconsin has retained diploma privilege is that law professors believe that it is more beneficial to produce attorneys who understand Wisconsin policy, as well as the basic legal concepts, and produce attorneys that are able to apply these skills in the legal profession. Many legal professors feels that a bar exam just teaches students how to memorize laws and pass a test, rather than retain information and develop practical skills.
A “good” lawyer is not determined by the bar exam that they passed but rather by the knowledge they possess and effort they will put into your needs.
And oh those Green Bay Packers, so mediocre….not.
“Were”.
Paul, where you telling your students this about land grant universities?
My daughter graduated from Florida State’s law school, she was a visiting student her last year of law school in UW Madison’s law school. She most certainly did take the Wisconsin Bar and passed it with no problems.
Don’t like Wisconsin? Don’t live here.
Also DBQ,
Why would my telling you UW Madison’s requirements bother you? I really don’t understand your 10:13 AM comment. If some Wisconsin parents were miffed their kids didn’t get into UW Madison, it’s not my doing. Tell them to call the University to complain.
DBQ, Wisconsin has to be the most provincial state in the country. And, Lake Wobegon’s Minnesota is right behind it. They are told by politicians and the education industry they have “the best” schools and universities in the country. We[Wi. and MN.] pay very high taxes. But, we pay for prime rib and get chuck steak. As the great White Sox owner,Bill Veeck, said regarding salary arbitration that raised salaries exponentially for journeyman players, “It’s not the high cost of star players, they are worth the price. It is the high cost for mediocrity that kills a team owner.” We in Wi. pay a high price for mediocrity. Most folks don’t realize this. The education industry is so powerful they have an agreement w/ the bar association. If you graduate from either of the only 2 law schools in Wi., UW or Marquette, you do NOT need to take the bar exam. You be a lawyer, no questions asked. And I will anticipate your question and answer, YES! There are some incredibly incompetent attorneys in Wi.
Sorry DBQ, but if your child wasn’t in the top 15 percent of his/her class and had the other requirements my daughter listed and the admissions page I linked to listed, they will not get admitted to UW Madison. That is simply a fact. Research it for yourself.
Paul:
“Inga – is UW (Madison) a land grant college? If it is, it is required to accept the high school graduates of the state, regardless of their grades.”
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Your assertion is just nuts.
“[Virginia’s Land Grant University,]Virginia Tech, received 19,323 applications for the fall 2013 freshman class, offering admission to 13,407. The typical student offered admission had a high-school grade point average of 4.00, with the middle 50 percent ranging from 3.78 and 4.23. The average cumulative SAT score was 1250 (out of 1600), with a middle range ranging from 1160 to 1340. ”
You need to get on the phone to people in Blacksburg. They obviously have no idea what they are doing. Virginia residents comprise about 65% of Tech’s student body and lots of Virginia high school graduates get turned down every year.
Let me know where you once taught, Paul. They must have some stories to tell.
mespo – if you had followed along, I walked back my statement on land grant colleges. You might want to go back and reread what I said.
UW Madison doesn’t admit mediocre students
Wow…..just like Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.
What a wonderful world!!!!