California̢۪s higher education infrastructure is in a state of flux, and state legislature has been haphazard in its attempts to bridge a multi-million dollar budget deficit.
According to the latest polls, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state legislature have received record low approval ratings for their handling of higher education. Schwarzenegger received a disappointing 21 percent while legislature received 16 percent.
Despite the recent injection of stimulus funding intended to restore more than 200 class sections and rehire an unspecified number of lectures at California State Universities, it is not enough to rebound from cuts of historic proportions. Legislature must consider alternatives that do not interfere with students̢۪ graduation plans.
The solution? Assembly Bill 656. Urge support for a bill that would tax oil extraction to pay for higher education.
The bill calls for taxing oil and natural gas drawn from California land and allotting the money to the 23-CSUs, 8-UCs and community college systems throughout the state. As proposed, the bill would raise $1 billion a year. The majority of the funding would go to the CSU, according to the bill̢۪s author, State Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont.
The issue is divisive, with proponents of the matter saying it will alleviate the effects of the fiscal crisis while detractors argue that resulting tax increases will add to the already overstretched general fund.
Weeks of rallying and demonstrating have resonated with university officials, with President John D. Welty even considering the piece of legislation. On Nov. 18,Torrico will make his way to the Fresno State campus to lobby on behalf of the bill.
California, which is the third largest oil-producing state in the nation, does not have such a tax in place. Other large oil-producing states, such as Texas and Alaska, have a similar bill implemented that funds social programs and education. Yet state legislature has been hesitant to pass the bill. AB656 has been rejected numerous times since mid-June.
Millions more in higher education and state funding cuts loom ominously for the foreseeable future, so California Legislature should be doing all that it can to fund higher education.
The numbers do not lie. California graduates have powered the state; The Master Plan was framed upon this concept. By 2025, the state will fall 1 million college graduates short of its needs, according to recent estimates from the Public Policy Institute of California.
In the past seven years, funds have been cut from the CSU̢۪s portion of the state budget as well as admission freezes, furloughs, a reduction in class sections and ultimately delayed graduations all in efforts to reduce costs. A billion-dollar boost from the bill has the potential to finance thousands of students educations.
The state is a long way from solving its financial and funding obstacles for higher education, so any reasonable measure that can be taken should be implemented. AB 656 is not a perfect solution — but it is a start.
Jared Harper • Nov 17, 2009 at 8:38 pm
I agree with you on that common sense required! That is why SB 218 was needed. What students should be asking Welty to adocate for is SB 218 all over again, although it was struck down. But im sure we all know what his response to that will be, it will be: NO! NO! NO! because then it will reveal all the corruption within auxilaries and we cant have that happen on a campus where administration says they are looking out for students best interests.
Jared Harper • Nov 18, 2009 at 4:38 am
I agree with you on that common sense required! That is why SB 218 was needed. What students should be asking Welty to adocate for is SB 218 all over again, although it was struck down. But im sure we all know what his response to that will be, it will be: NO! NO! NO! because then it will reveal all the corruption within auxilaries and we cant have that happen on a campus where administration says they are looking out for students best interests.
Jared Harper • Nov 18, 2009 at 4:38 am
I agree with you on that common sense required! That is why SB 218 was needed. What students should be asking Welty to adocate for is SB 218 all over again, although it was struck down. But im sure we all know what his response to that will be, it will be: NO! NO! NO! because then it will reveal all the corruption within auxilaries and we cant have that happen on a campus where administration says they are looking out for students best interests.
Common sense required • Nov 17, 2009 at 12:39 pm
jesi 2
As a matter of fact I don’t believe it will help education. As I stated before, there is no amount of money that will ever be enough for a system that is this corrupt. The priorities are so far out of line it is laughable. Ask yourself why, if there is so little money that the number of administrators in the system has gone up 30%? When we pump more money into the system do you really believe the focus will be completely on students? As for the notion that administrators on this campus and the others are not part of the problem, I find that one of the most laughable remarks I’ve heard in a long time. More revealing is the remark that they might only be guilty of not advocating for a solution strongly enough. Your solution? Let me guess – more money. Do the students know how money is funnelled out of the state side, where this is greater accountability and mandated reporting, to the auxiliary where they hide behind privacy laws? Do the students know that they pay money to the auxilary for things like ASI office space and managerial services and that money goes to campus pointe? Do they know that the book store is a non-profit that makes a profit and that money goes to …. you guessed it, campus pointe, Save Mart Center etc…
Common sense required • Nov 17, 2009 at 8:39 pm
jesi 2
As a matter of fact I don’t believe it will help education. As I stated before, there is no amount of money that will ever be enough for a system that is this corrupt. The priorities are so far out of line it is laughable. Ask yourself why, if there is so little money that the number of administrators in the system has gone up 30%? When we pump more money into the system do you really believe the focus will be completely on students? As for the notion that administrators on this campus and the others are not part of the problem, I find that one of the most laughable remarks I’ve heard in a long time. More revealing is the remark that they might only be guilty of not advocating for a solution strongly enough. Your solution? Let me guess – more money. Do the students know how money is funnelled out of the state side, where this is greater accountability and mandated reporting, to the auxiliary where they hide behind privacy laws? Do the students know that they pay money to the auxilary for things like ASI office space and managerial services and that money goes to campus pointe? Do they know that the book store is a non-profit that makes a profit and that money goes to …. you guessed it, campus pointe, Save Mart Center etc…
Common sense required • Nov 17, 2009 at 8:39 pm
jesi 2
As a matter of fact I don’t believe it will help education. As I stated before, there is no amount of money that will ever be enough for a system that is this corrupt. The priorities are so far out of line it is laughable. Ask yourself why, if there is so little money that the number of administrators in the system has gone up 30%? When we pump more money into the system do you really believe the focus will be completely on students? As for the notion that administrators on this campus and the others are not part of the problem, I find that one of the most laughable remarks I’ve heard in a long time. More revealing is the remark that they might only be guilty of not advocating for a solution strongly enough. Your solution? Let me guess – more money. Do the students know how money is funnelled out of the state side, where this is greater accountability and mandated reporting, to the auxiliary where they hide behind privacy laws? Do the students know that they pay money to the auxilary for things like ASI office space and managerial services and that money goes to campus pointe? Do they know that the book store is a non-profit that makes a profit and that money goes to …. you guessed it, campus pointe, Save Mart Center etc…
jesi 2 • Nov 16, 2009 at 8:04 am
R SNOWE…have you read the bill? what dont you get about the bill? It siunds like you feel it wont help education!
jesi 2 • Nov 16, 2009 at 4:04 pm
R SNOWE…have you read the bill? what dont you get about the bill? It siunds like you feel it wont help education!
jesi 2 • Nov 16, 2009 at 4:04 pm
R SNOWE…have you read the bill? what dont you get about the bill? It siunds like you feel it wont help education!
R. Snowe • Nov 15, 2009 at 6:49 am
Have you actually read the text of the bill? Or are you simply regurgitating the talking points of the CFA in this article? Because if you did read it, it sure as hell doesn’t show.
R. Snowe • Nov 15, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Have you actually read the text of the bill? Or are you simply regurgitating the talking points of the CFA in this article? Because if you did read it, it sure as hell doesn’t show.
R. Snowe • Nov 15, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Have you actually read the text of the bill? Or are you simply regurgitating the talking points of the CFA in this article? Because if you did read it, it sure as hell doesn’t show.
The helper • Nov 13, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Regarding the two above comments: The problem mainly lies at the state level and not necessarily with administration and so on at Fresno State or any other CSU. The only thing they may be guilty of is not advocating for a solution as much as they should be.
The helper • Nov 14, 2009 at 7:25 am
Regarding the two above comments: The problem mainly lies at the state level and not necessarily with administration and so on at Fresno State or any other CSU. The only thing they may be guilty of is not advocating for a solution as much as they should be.
The helper • Nov 14, 2009 at 7:25 am
Regarding the two above comments: The problem mainly lies at the state level and not necessarily with administration and so on at Fresno State or any other CSU. The only thing they may be guilty of is not advocating for a solution as much as they should be.
jesi 2 • Nov 13, 2009 at 3:52 pm
This is sooooooo true. Welty lied so much at the meeting with students. He cant lie to us anymore. Students are fed up with the lies. These admins need to give it up they are only fooling themselves and the few puppet students in ASI (Cough ) ahem’ i mean in US of A.
jesi 2 • Nov 13, 2009 at 11:52 pm
This is sooooooo true. Welty lied so much at the meeting with students. He cant lie to us anymore. Students are fed up with the lies. These admins need to give it up they are only fooling themselves and the few puppet students in ASI (Cough ) ahem’ i mean in US of A.
jesi 2 • Nov 13, 2009 at 11:52 pm
This is sooooooo true. Welty lied so much at the meeting with students. He cant lie to us anymore. Students are fed up with the lies. These admins need to give it up they are only fooling themselves and the few puppet students in ASI (Cough ) ahem’ i mean in US of A.
Common sense required • Nov 13, 2009 at 2:29 pm
What a great plan. Throw more money at a broken and corrupt system and expect a different outcome. Let me tell you what would happen – the university would herald the additional funds as a commitment to education. Then business as usual would return with money for buildings, administrators (remember – Welty and the administrators argue that they are vastly underpaid compared to their peers and there aren’t enough of them), Campus Pointe, athletics etc…, while the actual quality of education declines further. When the next fee increase is proposed (in a year or two), staff goes without a raise again and adjuncts teach a higher % of classes, you will hear from the CSU about the crisis in higher ed and how the state needs to provide still more money. The system is like a crack addict – giving it more doesn’t stabalize or satisfy it – it just needs more. Until the system gets back to its core mission, students in a class being taught by a great prof – with everything else of secondary importance, giving it more money just exacerbates the problem. There is no amount of money or percentage of funding that will ever be enough.
Common sense required • Nov 13, 2009 at 10:29 pm
What a great plan. Throw more money at a broken and corrupt system and expect a different outcome. Let me tell you what would happen – the university would herald the additional funds as a commitment to education. Then business as usual would return with money for buildings, administrators (remember – Welty and the administrators argue that they are vastly underpaid compared to their peers and there aren’t enough of them), Campus Pointe, athletics etc…, while the actual quality of education declines further. When the next fee increase is proposed (in a year or two), staff goes without a raise again and adjuncts teach a higher % of classes, you will hear from the CSU about the crisis in higher ed and how the state needs to provide still more money. The system is like a crack addict – giving it more doesn’t stabalize or satisfy it – it just needs more. Until the system gets back to its core mission, students in a class being taught by a great prof – with everything else of secondary importance, giving it more money just exacerbates the problem. There is no amount of money or percentage of funding that will ever be enough.
Common sense required • Nov 13, 2009 at 10:29 pm
What a great plan. Throw more money at a broken and corrupt system and expect a different outcome. Let me tell you what would happen – the university would herald the additional funds as a commitment to education. Then business as usual would return with money for buildings, administrators (remember – Welty and the administrators argue that they are vastly underpaid compared to their peers and there aren’t enough of them), Campus Pointe, athletics etc…, while the actual quality of education declines further. When the next fee increase is proposed (in a year or two), staff goes without a raise again and adjuncts teach a higher % of classes, you will hear from the CSU about the crisis in higher ed and how the state needs to provide still more money. The system is like a crack addict – giving it more doesn’t stabalize or satisfy it – it just needs more. Until the system gets back to its core mission, students in a class being taught by a great prof – with everything else of secondary importance, giving it more money just exacerbates the problem. There is no amount of money or percentage of funding that will ever be enough.