Another 20% to 30% Slashing of $ for PA. Public Universities; Plus More Corbett Satire

[JPZenger]

Last edited Mon Feb 6, 2012, 06:00 PM - Edit history (5)

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20120206_More_cuts_for_Pennsylvanias_state_universities_.html?ref=facebook.com

Last year, Corbett's proposed budget would have cut funding to all PA. public universities by 50%. In response to public uproar, the legislature reduced the cut to a still-painful 20%. Then, the administration's budget projections were fudged so they could claim justification for another 5% budget freeze. (Current state revenues are actually ahead of the previous year's).

This afternoon, the Phil. Inquirer is reporting a leak that Corbett will try to get that same total draconian cut into effect in his budget, to be released tomorrow. Meanwhile, $301 million and counting so far has been lost because of the failure of the legislature to adopt any gas extraction fees.

Excerpts:

"The 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, including West Chester and Cheyney, would see their state funding cut by 20 percent under Corbett's 2012-13 budget. The four state-related universities - Temple, Penn State, Lincoln and the University of Pittsburgh - would get a 30 percent cut, a source has confirmed.

For the state system, which received $412.7 million this year, it would mean a whopping $83 million cut.

The proposed cuts also would follow a substantial decrease in funding to the state universities in the current year, including a mid-year request from the governor for the schools to return some money. Students and professors already have begun rallying for additional funding for their schools."

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Here's some new satire of Corbett's budget address:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12037/1208419-294-0.stm

"Sure, it'd be great if we could all go back to some "Fantasy Island" version of Pennsylvania, where we fed our hungry families, saved our mass transit systems and paid for a sufficient number of teachers, but the era we inhabit is more like "Survivor" -- someone has to get voted out each week.

There are some Chicken Littles out there on the transportation front, screaming about how roads, bridges and mass transit will all fall apart if they don't get more state aid. What they forget is that our health care costs have been skyrocketing because of obesity. If we can reduce people's reliance on motor vehicles and get them to walk or bike where they need to, it will substantially reduce Medical Assistance costs while boosting the health of Pennsylvania's population. So as of July 1, in order to help balance the budget, we will not be providing any further transportation funding. Let's see the whiners try to get themselves into better, leaner shape, for a change.

And others keep talking about the need to extract more revenue from Marcellus Shale gas drilling, as though taxing that young and ever-so-fragile industry is the answer to all our problems. While I would agree that on the surface it seems like an obvious solution to some of our problems, we are not interested in taking the easy way out. Every well that we discourage from being drilled in Pennsylvania's state forests is one more that the terrorists will drill in the Middle East...

As for the rest of Pennsylvania's schools, a 10 percent across-the-board cut in subsidies is necessary and unavoidable this year. And that goes double for you university eggheads."
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Based partly upon the writings of Eric Epstein, here's Corbett's Top 10 List of Ways He will Balance the State Budget.

10. Invade West Virginia, to take over their gas wells.

9. Charge the State Police rent.

8. Sell cigars with school lunches.

7. Deport everyone who is disabled.

6. Legalize slot machines in nursing homes.

5. 25 DUI checkpoints around each Penn State football game.

4. Accept food stamps as payment for tickets to political fundraisers.

3. Provide incentives for high school students to get pregnant, to grow the tax base.

2. Stop teaching math in public schools and colleges, so no one can question my budget.

1. Outsource the State Legislature to China.

Or, we could sell naming rights - such as "The Pennsylvania State Budget - Brought to you by Cabot Oil and Gas Corporation.

Or, we could sell lots of T-shirts with the slogan: "Pennsylvania: Home of Tax Free Fracking."

The State could also make a fortune by selling bottled water to people living near gas wells.

[JPZenger]

1. Classic Sci Fi TV Show: Tom Corbett - Space Cadet

[PRETZEL]

2. Someone needs to copyright that slogan

"Pennsylvania: Home of Tax Free Fracking"

It's so sad that satire is often more truthful than what we hear.

[JPZenger]

3. Updated info on higher education cuts

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/02/pa_college_students_to_feel_th.html

Excerpts:

"It would cut funding for the 14 schools in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, including Shippensburg and Millersville universities by 20 percent. Funding for the three state-related schools — Penn State, Pitt and Temple — would be cut by 30 percent, while the other state-related school, Lincoln University, would receive the same level of funding it got this year. Community colleges would see a 3.5 percent reduction.

As for the state grant program, that too would be cut. The 5 percent reduction proposed for these need-based grants that do not have to be repaid would lower the amount available to fund these grants to $361.9 million.

What it means: It would be bad news on all fronts for college students. They undoubtedly would see tuition rise. They'll likely to have to put up with bigger class sizes and fewer course or program offerings. And those eligible to receive a state grant would see less assistance for that part of their financial aid package."

[JPZenger]

4. Public College Funding is being Slashed to pay for a business tax cut

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1074417

[PA Democrat]

5. Put the DUI checkpoints outside of Republican fundraisers.

This is sickening. Penn State and Pitt are already the 2 most expensive public universities in the country.