forgotston.com

There’s been a lot of concern over the latest round of budget cuts to Higher Education in Louisiana.   The “Roads Scholar” just ordered that $84 Million be cut from the current budget of Higher Education.

Obviously, those folks who are concerned about the funding reduction simply “don’t understand.”

Higher Education in Louisiana is still adequately funded.

How do I know that? Because here is what Bobby promised while campaigning for governor in 2007 about Higher Education:

–We have to invest in higher education with a focus on research efforts that partner with the private sector to meet the needs of our state. Source: Jindal Campaign brochure: Economic Reform: Expanding Innovation, Investment and Opportunity for all Louisianians.

As Governor, I will commit to developing nationally competitive state research departments here in Louisiana, improve the focus on technology transfer and commercialization, and work with universities to pursue top faculty with competitive salaries and endowments. Ibid.

–LSU must be supported so that it can compete with the other leading research universities around the country.  We can no longer afford to be penny-wise and pound foolish by allowing valuable researchers that can bring in millions of dollars in grants to leave because we refuse to pay to repair crumbling infrastructure and facilities. Ibid.

–If we are to utilize the strengths of Louisiana’s educational institutions to expand our economy, we must adequately fund higher education. Ibid.

Adequate is defined as “enough: sufficient in quality or quantity to meet a need…” Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition]

Therefore, unless one believes that Bobby has broken a promise to the people of Louisiana, one must assume that Higher Education is adequately funded.

Clearly, Higher Education in Louisiana was over-funded prior to the latest reduction.

C.B.