Top Republican Wants To Restore Funding To Higher Education
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - A key state Senator says he wants to eliminate all of the cuts for higher education that Governor Tom Corbett has proposed in his new budget.
Last year, state lawmakers were able to reduce but not eliminate the steep cuts in state funding Governor Corbett proposed for higher education.
This year, the governor has proposed another round of cuts for community colleges, state-owned universities and three state-related universities: Temple, Penn State and Pitt. And this year, Republican Jake Corman – the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee whose district includes Penn State – says he wants to wipe out all of the proposed cuts.
Reporter: "Are you talking about trying to restore all that funding?"
Corman: "Yes."
Reporter: "…to all of those schools?"
Corman: "Yes."
Reporter: "How realistic is that?"
Corman: "I think it's very realistic. I mean, look, it's a matter of what our priorities are. We'll go down through the budget. Obviously, it's going to be a challenge. It's not a great budget year. But, that's my goal."
Corman, who says higher education has done enough to help balance the state budget, thinks there's a better chance this year to eliminate all of the cuts that have been proposed.
