By Rafal Rogoza –
Does Governor Christie really care about higher education or is he full of shiitake mushrooms?
In his 2013 budgetary address in late February, Christie increased Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) funding by $28 million and funding for four year colleges and universities by $80 million – according to Christie’s plan NJCU is expected to get a $3.4 million increase.
This year during his address Christie looked very unfamiliar. He called higher education the “key to advancement.” Last year, all that was heard from Christie was “We can’t afford it” as he cut $55 million from TAG and left higher education funding flat. That cut had serious consequences, The Gothic Times found numerous students that didn’t return to school because they couldn’t afford it.
This meager “increase” in funding is really a spoon full of misu soup for starving students that are hungry for a long over due entree of teriaki chicken and soy dipping sauce. We need more money — the $3.4 million that NJCU is expected to receive isn’t going to lower tuition as operating costs keep rising.
Frankly, I’m skeptical of the Governor’s uncharacteristic decision considering that next year is an election year.
What the Governor is doing is playing a political game for his reelection. He can’t run next year without giving the impression that he financially supported higher education. If Christie had decided not to increasing funding this year, the Democrats would exploit the fact that Christie cut funding for higher education during his term as Governor. But now Christie can boast that he revitalized higher education in New Jersey.
Maybe the legislature will take higher education more seriously and increase funding to make tuition costs manageable for students. My guess is they will play politics and instead of being realistic they will increase it dramatically in an attempt to embarrass the Governor as he will be forced to use his veto power to cut it.
Holy dingle-berries when will they stop the shenanigans! It’s enough to make your stomach turn.