More by his actions than his words, it is clear Gov. Bobby Jindal does not aspire to be the higher-education governor. He might cause major historic changes to the university system, but whether they are for better or worse won’t be known until after this slow-moving budgetary train wreck plays out over the next few years.
As anyone who attends or draws a paycheck from a state college knows, its leaders face having to make do with $219 million—or 15% less—in state funding next year after $55 million was sliced during the current fiscal year. Those cuts grow doubly worse in two years, when $220 million per year in federal stimulus money for higher ed runs out.
The Jindal administration has criticized efforts by the House of Representatives to plug some of the holes with one-time money. The governor has outright rejected and promised to veto a bill by senators to raise $118 million by freezing the phase-in of personal income tax deductions, primarily mortgage interest payments and charitable contributions, scheduled to go from 65% to 100% this year.
Brushing aside suggestions for short-term relief, the governor emphasizes the need for significant reductions in higher education spending now so that less will have to be cut in 2011, an election year.
Just how to make these immediate and drastic reductions is a task he has delegated to Higher Education Commissioner Sally Clausen. After all, she came up with the idea for a new formula for distributing academic dollars based more on graduation rates and research grants than the current gauge of warm bodies enrolled.
Clausen still champions that plan, but points out that it was to be implemented with additional funding—not less. Conceding that cuts must come, however, she and the university presidents are asking for time to ratchet down spending instead of taking such a heavy hit up-front. They warn the immediate loss of 15% in state money would chase off top-flight faculty—and their research grants. In eliminating degree programs, schools still have some obligation to allow upperclassmen to complete those studies.
The damage has begun already, Clausen warned, testifying before senators about her conversation with a Louisiana professor who is leaving for Maryland “because that governor is not harming higher education.”
Jindal needs to offer more than a deaf ear to legislators’ unconventional, even short-term, solutions. He might reject the proposed deduction freeze as a tax increase by another name, but his tough-love, tough-luck response to the colleges’ plight falls short of responsible leadership.
What sets Jindal apart from his predecessors is that past governors, when faced with fiscal downturns, would do all they could, look for money where they could find it—recurring or one-time—to help colleges through bad times.
In this case, that could be mean tapping into the Budget Stabilization Fund, the so-called rainy-day fund, which would net at least $260 million for education and health care. There is a constitutional Catch-22 that would require the fund to be replenished some time next year. Yet there are ways to do that with one-time dollars, from several available sources, in order to make the rainy-day umbrella work.
Jindal warns that using one-time money to cover recurring expenses would just make the fiscal problem worse later, but that’s not necessarily so. If there is any constant in budget writing, it’s that there always is one-time money—from different sources and in different amounts, but it’s there every year.
Such is not the preferred budgetary practice, but it is not so dangerous and irresponsible as Jindal claims, not like risking ruin to higher education.
That happened in the desperate budget deficit of 20 years ago, and it has taken that long for our universities, particularly LSU, to recover.
Applying some less-than-pure budgetary fixes might require some compromise on the governor’s part, to which he is not accustomed, but that’s what on-the-job training is for.
Over the next two years, no one will determine the fate of public universities more than will Jindal, and vice versa. If higher education is not efficiently restructured but instead broken by the time Jindal is through as governor, he will own it.
Comments
Posted by nonyabizz on June 2, 2009 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jindal has no idea what "Responsible Leadership" is.
Posted by tadpolenbr2 on June 2, 2009 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a sad report on the state of affairs in Louisiana. If Mr. Jindal feels that this is what Republican-minded citizens want from him, I believe he is sadly disillusioned. He has been a huge disappointment in many voters minds. I am afraid he is a one term governor who is going to leave a serious pock mark on our state and simply promote mediocrity.
His only genuine effort to be effective in office is his hurricane disaster management. Perhaps that is what he should hang his professional career on and not the governorship.
My question is..."Why can't the legislature be independent minded and do what is necessary to make good decisions?" I do appreciate the efforts of those who are trying to do so. I am extremely disappointed in the Baton Rouge delegation for not standing tall in support of the economic that drives our region. Perhaps we should invest in chicken farms here in Baton Rouge.
Posted by bradman on June 2, 2009 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is strictly a matter of conflicting goals. On one hand we have educators struggling to build something of lasting value for future generations of the state, on the other we have Piyush trying desperately to create some "conservative tracks" that he can point to in future presidential election bids. He is playing to the "slash and burn" mentality that has advanced his career in the past. This state deserves much better than him. I'm sorry that I voted for him.
Posted by jsmi128 on June 2, 2009 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This legislative season, I humbly implore that state leaders no longer ignore one of the most glaring problems facing the state: the pelican on the Louisiana state flag should immediately be replaced by a bird that better represents the state’s ideals and aspirations.
As Governor Jindal’s leadership has so bravely demonstrated, the foul fowl that sacrifices a piece of itself for the people, the socialist brown pelican, poorly embodies the economic and ethical principles that could and should form the foundation for a better Louisiana. In place of the pelican, the great chicken represents the enormous potential of Louisiana and the forward-thinking actions of its elected leadership.
Indeed, the chicken has taken its place atop the governor’s legislative agenda. The speed at which the governor’s pet project (providing $50 million of taxpayer funds to maintain a single chicken farm) flew through the legislative session was incredibly impressive. After leaving the state to be educated in the Ivy League and as a Rhodes Scholar, the governor certainly understands what Louisianans are capable of and deserve. A chicken farm represents the best employment opportunities for the state’s citizens; it represents best hope for economic development. What courage it has taken for the governor to show just how highly he values the skills (and tax money) of all Louisiana workers!
Instead of putting chickens on the chopping block, the governor has chosen to sacrifice higher education. The governor knows that higher education produces little more than chicken scratch and chicken...excrement. While other states—even sister states in the South—are finding ways to ensure that their citizens receive only the best-funded research engines and institutions tooled to train future workers in a knowledge economy, the governor has been brave enough to lay an egg. Instead of rallying policymakers to restructure restrictive laws that leave vulnerable education and healthcare, the governor has simply flown the coop to make speeches in other states and jockey for a position in a new Republican party. Knowing that Louisianans must have dinner before dessert, Jindal has simply said, “Let them eat chicken.” (The cake of higher education is an unnecessary extra for Louisiana citizens.)
In the midst of all the clucking at the capitol, it is clear that only one bird represents the political will and bravery of the governor and the state’s political flock. Jindal has already given citizens the bird. Why not put a new bird on the flag, too? Let all in Louisiana not stop short of ensuring that the chicken roosts above all, flying forever on the state’s official flag. Only then will a great state symbol match the actions of Louisiana leaders.
Posted by MoneyMan on June 2, 2009 at 9:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not sure who Governor Jindal thinks he's fooling. Instead of being a leader and offering solutions to help mitigate the funding problem facing our universities, he feigns sympathy and demands the universities comply with his vision for them...aka..."right sizing" if they want more funding.
You think he actually believes what he says? Obviously the chicken plant in North Louisiana was deemed to be now "right sized" because he released some funds there. Same with the Saints. I'm not sure if they are headed in the "right" direction, but the Governor must think so as he gave them tons of our money.
If he doesn't get his way, he uses his "respected" floor leaders like Tucker or Fannin or some conveniently worried (maybe scared is a better word) member like Rep. Steve Carter (he who hides in the Gov's office) to rally all like thinking minions to arms. In this case to block any attempt to help the universities.
Yep those 55 or so wonderful folks in the House of Mis-Representatives who signed off on a letter saying they will oppose the attempt to hold the excess itemized deductions at the same level for a few years to mitigate the cuts to our universities because to them that represents a tax increase. I'm sure they gladly rallied around out Gov because he sensed potential danger should he be presented with ..."gasp"...a bill to help the colleges that he didn't want. I wonder how may of those businessmen and businesswomen will commit to hold the line on the prices they charge in their enterprises over the next four or eight years? My guess is not too many as their expenses have gone up too, ya know. Plus, Jr. is off to college...yikes....let's keep those costs down.
Apparently the Gov realized that Senator Jackson's bill may gain traction and he would have to veto it if it passed. That may not look too good with the conservative Republicans he is courting in his run to be President (I didn't say that). Hmmmmmmmm, one way to avoid that is to have his buds block the bill when they get it. Problem solved!
What? NOOOOOOOOOO, he has the job he wants!! Why else would he leave the state so much to campaign? Oh yeah, he needs funds to stave off the potential candidates he may face for re-election. You know, that Tide soap guy may run again or those other two funny guys. Can't remember their names now but ...give me time, it'll come.
Wanna know my view? If the state is going to crash and burn in 2011-12 like he says....I predict he'll somehow be "called upon" by his supporters to run against our own venerable, esteemed, "family values is my moniker (or is that monica?)" Senator Vitter in 2010. Of course, he'll beat Vitter. Who wouldn't other than our current Treasurer, that is. Problem solved.
Posted by accents123 on June 3, 2009 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jindal is a politician, but not a smart one!! In order for him to make a bid for president, he is going to need to show the U.S. how he moved Louisiana forward, not backward!! Come on guys, move this bad egg aside. I, too was duped into thinking this young man was smart!! Sorry I voted for him. You will be, too, if legislators and citizens area able to stand up to Jindal and move Louisiana forward!!! We are already crashing and burning if we short change education and health care, like Jindal to prefers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by falling_like_rain on June 3, 2009 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you're still fighting the good fight on this one, good for you. You should know though that the damage has already been done. Academic circles have already heard that Jindal does not hold them as a high priority. I expect to see the system miss out on many good professors even if the cuts don't happen. Since the idea of furloughs were hatched, most of the professors have felt abandoned. Continuity is key in academia. Look at the top institutions in the country and name one that got there over night. The lack of commitment to the system has already done its damage inside the ivory tower. We'll have to wait and see if it spreads to the state's economy.
Posted by pmccarron on June 10, 2009 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Educate youself with your money! not my taxes.
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