Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
Congress would mandate state spending on higher education
By Mary Lazich
Sunday, Feb 17 2008, 06:12 AM
Controversial legislation before Congress contains a provision that would require states to appropriate a minimum amount of spending towards higher education based on previous spending or suffer a loss of federal funds.
On February 7, 2008, the House passed the College Opportunity and Affordability Act, 354-58. Wisconsin Congressmen Baldwin, Kagen, Kind, Moore, Obey and Petri voted in favor. Congressman Ryan and Sensenbrenner voted against the Act.
According to Stateline.org, the Act “would require each state’s higher education funding to be at or above the average it spent over the last five years. If states don’t commit that amount, they could lose their share of federal money from the $65 million Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership grant program to help low-income students.”
Opponents say the Act amounts to the feds sticking their noses in states’ business.
Stateline.org quotes North Dakota state Rep. Rae Ann Kelsch (R), the chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) education standing committee:
“Once again the federal government is saying that they’re the ones that have the most expertise to run education in individual states. The provision would set a dangerous precedent for the federal intrusion into state policy and the appropriation authority. That’s an issue that we as legislators pride ourselves in.”
This is an issue worth watching.
Here is the entire Stateline.org piece.
