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Response to the letter from Paul Ibisch
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To the Editor:
The recent confused opinion written by Paul Ibisch claimed that since there are more students enrolled in Minnesota state colleges, the colleges don’t have as much funding from the state to run their operations. The issue is far more complex than the pastor made it. What the pastor conveniently forgot to include in his complaint is that the governor clearly has no interest in supporting higher education. He intentionally omits Governor Pawlenty’s latest cut of $100 million directly to colleges and universities.
Minnesota state law says, “It is the policy of the legislature to provide stable funding for public postsecondary institutions and that the state and students share the cost of public postsecondary education. The legislature intends to provide at least 67 percent of the combined revenue from tuition, the university fee at the University of Minnesota, and state general fund appropriations to public postsecondary institutions” (Minnesota Statutes 135A.01).
Stable funding of 67 percent is our state’s commitment to people seeking higher education, a legacy Minnesotans are proud of. When the Governor took office, the state DID pay two-thirds of college costs while families and students paid one-third. But the Governor has consistently cut state funding to colleges, and families and students now pay HALF of the cost.
Ibisch attempts to explain that this is because of an increase of students enrolled in state colleges and universities. True, and so Minnesota’s responsibility is to increase the total funding to the higher ed system. Instead, Ibisch wants to make deep cuts to schools and force higher college costs on families and students. He’s clearly out of touch.
We need good jobs and a strong state economy. To create them, we need job training and higher education that’s affordable, for our children and for the many adults who are seeking advanced degrees and additional job training. That’s the Minnesota tradition, and that’s why I’m glad Senator Ropes is working to protect Minnesota’s promise of affordable college education.
Todd Paddock
Winona, Minn.
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