Anyone with students in college knows that Michigan universities are imposing higher taxes on students and their parents, in the form of big tuition hikes. The universities' actions come after the Legislature has taken several weeks off this summer instead of working on the state budget.
So who is getting the blame for the tuition hikes? Not the lolly-gagging Legislature, specifically the Republican-run state Senate where the hold-up is. In the Livingston Press & Argus for Wednesday (Aug. 1, 2007), an editorial is trying to pin the blame on Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
The editorial claims that Granholm hasn't shown enough "outrage" over the tuition increases. The newspaper fails to mention the refusal of Senate Republican Leader Mike Bishop to deal with the budget, and with tax increases that are likely needed in order to stave off the tuition increases. The only mention of the Legislature is a perfunctory one in the last paragraph, which reads, "We only wish that our governor, our lawmakers and our university officials were equally as outraged."
The editorial might have done some good had it pointed out exactly where the bottle neck is, but the Livingston Press & Argus is mighty shy when it comes to pointing fingers at Republican-obstructionism. Republicans want to look like they're against tax increases, while forcing universities to do the dirty work of raising taxes (in the form of higher tuition) for them.
The editorial could have urged people to call Bishop's office and tell him to get moving on the state budget. His office phone is 517-373-2417. You can send an email from his office web-page.
Show your outrage. Impress the Press & Argus.
1 comment:
I suppose that the governor could have held her breath until either the Legislature provided more money for education or she turned blue.
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