2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial: Governor should practice what he preaches
Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
2/5/08 - Amidst either celebration or upset after Sunday night's Super Bowl and the hoopla that surrounds today's "Super Tuesday," a major announcement closer to home took place just in time for the weekend.
On Friday, Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri announced his proposed $6.88 billion fiscal year 2009 budget, which included millions of dollars of cuts in higher education.
These proposed cuts, which at URI will amount to $12.1 million over two years, make it clear that, according to the governor, higher education is no longer a top priority.
In his budget address, the governor said that he stood by his pledge not to raise taxes and instead cut various parts of the state government. At URI, those cuts will amount to a significant increase in tuition.
But don't look to the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority for help. The governor slashed $1 million from the agency's budget that provides $13 million in grants to Rhode Island residents attending postsecondary institutions throughout the country, including URI.
For someone who says he is such a fan of higher education, Carcieri's proposed budget shows he does not practice what he preaches.
In his 2007 State of the State address, the Republican governor outlined his "vision" for Rhode Island. Carcieri said he envisioned "a Rhode Island that is known as an educational leader, whose children are among the best prepared in the nation, and whose institutions of higher education are flourishing with new investments and more students."
Flourishing governor? Aid to the states colleges has actually decreased during the Carcieri administration and tuition rates soared at averages of 6 percent or more at what is supposed to be the state's flagship university. Enrollment has grown, but only marginally.
Indeed, it appears the governor has a short memory. In his 2008 State of the State address last month, he mentioned higher education not once.
There is no doubt Carcieri has been terrible for higher education in this state. It is no wonder that college-educated people are fleeing the state in record numbers. These folks understand that an investment in higher education pays off ten-fold down the line and that living in a state without a college-educated workforce is scary.
URI graduates staff our pharmacies, run major corporations, hold government positions and file our taxes. We cannot afford to live in a state where people cannot afford to learn these skills. But, apparently the governor disagrees.
On Friday, Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri announced his proposed $6.88 billion fiscal year 2009 budget, which included millions of dollars of cuts in higher education.
These proposed cuts, which at URI will amount to $12.1 million over two years, make it clear that, according to the governor, higher education is no longer a top priority.
In his budget address, the governor said that he stood by his pledge not to raise taxes and instead cut various parts of the state government. At URI, those cuts will amount to a significant increase in tuition.
But don't look to the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority for help. The governor slashed $1 million from the agency's budget that provides $13 million in grants to Rhode Island residents attending postsecondary institutions throughout the country, including URI.
For someone who says he is such a fan of higher education, Carcieri's proposed budget shows he does not practice what he preaches.
In his 2007 State of the State address, the Republican governor outlined his "vision" for Rhode Island. Carcieri said he envisioned "a Rhode Island that is known as an educational leader, whose children are among the best prepared in the nation, and whose institutions of higher education are flourishing with new investments and more students."
Flourishing governor? Aid to the states colleges has actually decreased during the Carcieri administration and tuition rates soared at averages of 6 percent or more at what is supposed to be the state's flagship university. Enrollment has grown, but only marginally.
Indeed, it appears the governor has a short memory. In his 2008 State of the State address last month, he mentioned higher education not once.
There is no doubt Carcieri has been terrible for higher education in this state. It is no wonder that college-educated people are fleeing the state in record numbers. These folks understand that an investment in higher education pays off ten-fold down the line and that living in a state without a college-educated workforce is scary.
URI graduates staff our pharmacies, run major corporations, hold government positions and file our taxes. We cannot afford to live in a state where people cannot afford to learn these skills. But, apparently the governor disagrees.