<p>Maybe the US Supreme Court will rule one day that only liberal Democrats can serve in office. Until that time, the voters will choose. If people choose not to vote, then they have no right to complain.</p>
<p>TomSrof Boston: Want to trade Governors?</p>
<p>This announcement is coming at a very bad time for the state universities in their recruitment of students. Everyone needs to pick a school by May 1, and the best students have lots of choices.</p>
<p>At the same time, at least college applicants have a warning of what lies ahead from our illustrious governor. This will help push my son into a private college (with a merit scholarship) as opposed to Pitt Honors or Penn State Honors. </p>
<p>I think the administration really wants to privatize everything - he still proposes to have PA. taxpayers pay millions of PHEAA funds DIRECTLY to private colleges within PA, including many very wealthy colleges. Few people know that funding even exists, because the students never see it.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2010/11/voter_apathy_is_hard_to_fight.html[/url]”>Voter apathy is hard to fight: Pa voter turnout back under 50 percent - pennlive.com;
Evidently the people that do care voted and the majority of those voted for this guy and whole bunch of new Republican legislators.</p>
<p>Lots of comments on the facebook event:
[GOV</a> CORBETT 50% Appropriation Reduction for Higher Education- UNACCEPTABLE](<a href=“Redirecting...”>Redirecting...)</p>
<p>aglages - regardless of who cared to vote, we should move on from the politics and refocus on the issue at hand. </p>
<p>There are many parents and students who are quite concerned that if this proposal (good or bad, liberal or tea party backer, who cares?) goes through, besides a tuition hike the quality of education available at Pitt, PSU, Temple, etc. will be reduced and those directly affect their kids. For some, raising tuition will greatly affect their decision and they’ll look at OOS options while others will still send their kids. If the school’s reaction is raising tuition and also reducing quality/options/programs, then that affects an even wider group of perspective students. With the May 1 decision looming, we have seen several reconsiderations on this thread. Maybe a knee jerk reaction but maybe not.</p>
<p>I can think of 900,000 reasons why Tom doesn’t want to tax the gas industry ($$).
[Candidates</a> spar over gas industry contributions](<a href=“http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10275/1092048-454.stm]Candidates”>http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10275/1092048-454.stm)</p>
<p>Also, I’m not sure that Tom can actually say he has a “mandate.” There are some who voted for him because they believed in his agenda. There were many who also voted for him not because they believed in his platform, but it was a vote against Onorato. </p>
<p>I don’t think anyone on this forum disagrees that the state needs to reign in its spending. But I think that the Governor’s office and the legislature especially need to look in their own offices first and eliminate all unnecessary expenditures. Why, for example, does the state contract out so much work to private law firms? Isn’t Harrisburg full of lawyers and law makers? Don’t they know how to research the law and arrive at a legal opinion on something without having to farm it out? Why are there so many legislative district offices - some within 1/2 mile of one another? Why does PA have one of the largest state legislatures?</p>
<p>Regarding the posting about the US Supreme Court (and I hope this is taken in the fun and levity in which it is intended) - The US Supreme court has already ruled that only a conservative GOP President can serve in office - even when the people did vote and voiced their mandate! ;></p>
<p>
Is the issue at hand why you went to college OOS? If not then perhaps there are many viewpoints and contributions that can be made to this thread in addition to whichever issue you NOW wish to focus the discussion.</p>
<p>Here’s the thread starter:</p>
<p>Governor Corbett this morning released his budget, which proposes a 50% cut in state funding to U. Pitt. At the same time, he is proposing to allow accelerated tax deductions for corporations that will cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars this year. </p>
<p>You can throw in your politics, no problem as the threadstarter did and you no doubt felt a need to respond to, but for those of us with time-dependent decisions to make, we would like some information of this proposal’s real impact to the universities in PA we considering attending. I think there are many of us in that position, that’s all.</p>
<p>
So what? Some will…some won’t. Are you concerned that PSU and Pitt won’t be able to fill their beds? </p>
<p>If you can’t afford the tuition then go someplace less expensive. There are less expensive colleges for PA residents to attend both in PA and outside of the state. Find one you can afford.</p>
<p>Actually Pitt is our least expensive option by far. We can afford it just fine. If you actually care to read what I wrote, I’m concerned about the quality of education resulting from this proposal for us specifically. </p>
<p>But of course, PSU and Pitt will fill their compliment. Unlike some others, I also care about the afforability for other families. I understand cutting back but putting the largest burden on higher education just doesn’t make sense.</p>
<p>
Count me in. I have a freshman daughter at Pitt and a son who has been accepted to PSU Engineering. I doubt there are many more interested parents than I. That said…what would you propose? Both Pitt and PSU historically don’t release their actual COAs until July/August after the state budget is finalized. Do you think we should assume a 20% tuition increase and plan accordingly or just transfer our children now and enroll OOS? Seriously, without hard numbers what are our choices beyond discussing the politics of the Governor’s proposal?</p>
<p>^^(quoting from a previous post) If you can’t afford the tuition then go someplace less expensive. There are less expensive colleges for PA residents to attend both in PA and outside of the state. Find one you can afford. </p>
<p>I think that may be part of the problem/concern/frustration that many are voicing on the board. What does this mean in terms of money for students? It is already assumed that tuition will increase - but by how much? That will be the determining factor as to whether or not a student can commit to Pitt, PSU - or any other school. For many students Pitt is their number 1 choice and it may be a stretch for them to afford the tuition. They barely can scrape together enough resources to pay for it now - figuring a modest increase in tuition for next year. But with this announcement there is fear and uncertainty. It doesn’t sound like a modest increase in tuition. It sounds like it may be a bomb shell. Maybe what they were able to cobble together isn’t going to be enough and then Pitt will definitely be out of reach. It would just be nice to know that sooner - before May 1 - than later.</p>
<p>
Obviously you are a “gem” of a human being. How did this thread become about what a fine humanitarian you are and not about “those of us with time-dependent decisions to make”?</p>
<p>I’m guessing the wheels of PA state government will not turn quickly enough for those of us making our May 1 decision. It’ll be interesting to hear the feedback from those who attend orientation/info events at the campus this spring. We’re going to honors day on 4/15 so I’m hoping some of the uncertainty will clear out by then. Does anyone have a good idea when 2011-12 tuition is usually announced?</p>
<p>aglages - yes, I’m a “gem” of a human being like the vast majority of others on this thread. Thanks very much! I was simply refuting your totally wrong assumption about MY situation since you cared to bring it up for no good reason.</p>
<p>
At the risk of re-introducing politics into this thread…what is the likelihood that the PA State Legislature will approve a budge before May 1st? My opinion…is none. For planning purposes I would say that we need to plan for a 20% IS tuition increase. If you/we can’t afford that then it is time to seriously consider a different college. Just my opinion…</p>
<p>
Anyone reading the prior posts does.</p>
<p>You and I agree!!! I’m hoping for only 10% but 20% is probably a good high number to use for planning. What about in state vs. OOS? Any difference?</p>
<p>Your prior post came in while I was typing my prior post BTW. Thanks for putting it out there.</p>
<p>I’m fortunate in that I live in the area. If tution dramatically increases my daughter will commute instead of living on campus. But at least she’ll be able to finish her education at Pitt. I’m sure there are many other students who are already enrolled that aren’t as fortunate. A 20% increase in tuition will force them to transfer to other universities.</p>