by Ron Gregory
ronjgregory@gmail.com
Charleston — Governor Jim Justice assailed Republican legislative efforts to cut the state budget for higher education yesterday. Justice has turned on the state’s emergency lantern in the dome of the capitol building to highlight what he calls a “budget crisis” for the state. Previously, he attacked GOP plans to cut funding from the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR).
The Republican-controlled State Senate put forward a budget plan last week that has been roundly criticized by Justice and fellow Democrats. His most recent salvo on higher education says the proposed budget would have “devastating” effects on higher education in the state. Justice specifically said he is joining the presidents of Marshall University and West Virginia University in asking reconsideration of the budget proposal. He said the GOP proposal would cut between $50 and $75 million from the state’s institutions of higher education.
“The Republicans don’t want to let the people of West Virginia know just how destructive their cuts will be to higher education,” Justice said. “They need to own up to the fact that West Virginia’s schools can’t afford to take a hit like this and may result in several of them shutting their doors. If we strangle our schools into oblivion it will hurt our students and the future of our workforce. It’s not right and the public needs to be aware of it.”
Marshall President Jerome Gilbert and WVU President E. Gordon Gee released a joint statement yesterday asking legislators to take the higher ed cuts off the table in trying to balance the budget. They stressed how each university has suffered severe budget cuts in previous years.
“President Gee and I are taking a stand together in support of preserving state funding for higher education as an investment in the future of our state and its people,” said Gilbert. “It doesn’t make sense to cut off one of the primary paths a state has to successful economic growth-and that’s an educated workforce. Higher education is absolutely vital to having the workforce companies want when they are looking to locate or expand facilities.”
Gee added, “I realize it may seem easier to cut our way to success. However, the worthier option is to invest in those things that will bring prosperity to our state. The best way to propel West Virginia into prosperity is to leverage its assets. West Virginia University, Marshall University and our sister institutions here in West Virginia are assets to this state. And we remain committed to helping our state’s leaders forge solutions that will drive real change.”
Gilbert explained, “Marshall alone has had $11.5 million in state cuts over the past several years. Another significant reduction in our state allocation will give us no choice but to effectively pass the cut directly on to our students in the form of a sizable tuition increase. That will be a real hardship for our students, three-fourths of whom are from West Virginia.”
Gee said, “We have always protected our academic mission and done our best to keep our tuition affordable and accessible. However, West Virginia University has taken nearly $30 million in state reductions over the past three years. Any additional significant reductions would jeopardize the quality and value of an education that a student at West Virginia University receives, as well as the programs and services we provide to the state.”
Republicans have been adamant in their proposals to cut government services without raising taxes and fees. GOP leadership has also been critical of Justice for lighting the statehouse emergency lantern and offering his conference room to negotiators on the budget dilemma. Republican House Finance Chair Eric Nelson of Kanawha County said the actions by Justice are unnecessary. He also called Justice’s offer of his conference room a “war room” scenario.