"You can't always get what you want...

...but you just might get what you need." 

Egged on by the Board of Regents President Bruininks is apparently going to ask the state legislature for an increase in funding for the next biennium.

Not, a wise idea, Bob. 

He also plans on spending yet more money to put together a propaganda report to try to convince the legislature that we are expensive, but we are worth an increase! No one doubts that the U is an essential part of the economic engine of this state. But this adventure is yet another stupid, sorry to be blunt, waste of money.

Don't believe me?  First we start with Gleason's rule: "The budget ends up being what the Governor wants."  Don't believe me?  Look at the last eight years. 

So here is what the gubernatorial candidates had  to say on Friday at the higher ed debate at the U, according to the Pioneer-Press:

Gubernatorial candidates warn U, higher ed: Cut costs

State can't afford to increase funding, all three hopefuls say

By Bill Salisbury

The three major-party candidates for governor delivered an austere message Friday to students and staff at the University of Minnesota. 

During a debate at the McNamara Alumni Center on the Minneapolis campus, Democrat Mark Dayton, Republican Tom Emmer and the Independence Party's Tom Horner said that with the state facing a $5.8 billion budget shortfall over the next two years, the next governor and Legislature will not be able afford to increase state funding to public colleges and universities, even if that means higher tuition.

"We don't have the money to fund it right now," Emmer said during a forum sponsored by the Minnesota Broadcasters Association and four university organizations.

And they warned college administrators that they expect them to do a better job of holding down tuition.

University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks said last week that the school needs an additional $100 million from the state in the next two years to avoid double-digit tuition increases.

But all three candidates suggested the university and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities aren't likely to get more state money.

Dayton has said he would like to increase funding for higher education, but only after balancing the state budget. Horner's goal is to avoid cuts. Emmer has proposed cutting higher education by $300 million. 

All three said colleges must do a better job of reducing costs.

Noting that tuition at Minnesota's two-year colleges is third-highest in the nation and the U's tuition is 50 percent higher than the average research university, the former U.S. senator [Dayton] said his long-term goal is to reduce tuition.

All three agreed that maintaining high-quality higher education is essential for the state's economic growth. But they want public colleges run more efficiently. 

 

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