Accessibility menu
State Representative Gene Pelowski Jr.
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8637
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
Press/News Releases
PELOWSKI ATTEMPTS TO IMPROVE HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING
St. Paul, MN - The House of Representatives passed their Deficiency and Supplemental Budget Bill today, authorizing funding for key state services such as higher education, veterans homes, the Department of Health and public safety.
Representative Gene Pelowski (DFL-Winona) offered an amendment to the higher education funding section of the bill, calling for restoration of the funding formula for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU).
The funding formula has been in place for decades, and provides for increases in funding prompted by increases in enrollment. Last session, this formula was repealed, leaving colleges and universities with inadequate funding to meet the financial challenges associated with a growing student body.
The amendment was ruled as not germane to the bill by the Speaker of the House, prompting Pelowski to call for an appeal of the ruling of the Chair, arguing that funding for MnSCU schools fits the overall parameters of the budget bill.
"Let's remember what the title of this bill is - the Deficiency and Supplemental Budget Bill." said Pelowski. "After the base cuts to MnSCU over the past three years, the double-digit tuition increases and record high student debt, there can be little doubt that MnSCU meets the deficiency benchmark.
"The very title of this bill makes restoring the funding formula germane."
The total appropriation for higher education in this bill is $5 million, all of which goes to a new University of Minnesota in Rochester.
"I would certainly argue that a new university in Rochester is not an issue of deficiency, nor can it be considered supplemental," said Pelowski. "In fact, what is happening with the Rochester University speaks to the need to restore this funding formula.
The $5 million for Rochester is coming from somewhere-I think it's fair to say the technical and community colleges and the state universities in the MnSCU system will bear some of the cost of this new university."
Pelowski's appeal of the rule of the chair failed on a tie vote of 65-65, mostly along party lines.
Rep. John Dorn (DFL -Mankato) offered an amendment that was also defeated, attempting to prevent the removal of language regarding duplication of services in Rochester among the state colleges and universities and the University of Minnesota. Current language discourages the creation of new programs that duplicate programs available elsewhere. This issue is especially relevant to the creation of a new branch of the University of Minnesota in the city of Rochester, which is already serviced by four other colleges.
"Since the discussion began on the University of Minnesota in Rochester, I have been asking for a list of programs they want that aren't already being provided by one of the institutions in the area," said Pelowski. "I never received that list, and now that I see the intent to remove the duplication language, I understand why."
One example Pelowski gave was the nursing degree that is currently offered by Winona State University; the failure of this amendment means that UM-Rochester can now also offer a degree in nursing, if it so chooses.
This is the only higher education bill the House will hear this session. It did not include any of the funding requests of either the University of Minnesota or MnSCU.
"This is a sad continuation of the cuts that were passed in 2003," said Pelowski. "It is becoming increasingly more difficult for our young people to continue their education, and what we have done here today is going to make it even tougher."
News Items
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: MINNESOTA STATUTE 12A IMPROVES STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PROCESS AND DISASTER RELIEF PACKAGE - (Posted: 2012-08-24 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI AND SEN. JEREMY MILLER SUPPORT TWO-BRIDGE PROPOSAL - (Posted: 2012-08-23 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PACKAGE SHOULD FOLLOW PROCESS OUTLINED IN 12A AND INCLUDE PUBLIC INPUT - (Posted: 2012-08-16 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.