The ASUO’s tuition freeze campaign found support in the state legislature Tuesday,
when Senate Democrats released their
2005-07 state budget.
The Democratic budget, which includes
a two-year freeze at Oregon public universities, was hotly contested by some Republicans for its total revenue estimate. Democrats
have predicted that revenues total $12.5
billion, about $300 million more than the
Republican estimate.
Both parties’ budget numbers have been
in flux since Feb. 25, when a new estimate predicted an additional $200 million would
be available.
House Speaker Karen Minnis, R-Wood Village, announced Tuesday in a press release that she was pulling House Republicans from the Joint Ways and Means Committee, which works on the budget, effectively grinding
the budgeting process to a halt. Reportedly, the two sides have since come to an agreement to proceed, and hearings will resume
on Monday.
“There’s no point in the Joint Ways and Means Committee meeting until the Senate Democrats decide to get serious about what revenue we have available,” Minnis said in the release.
A Minnis spokesman said Thursday the speaker hadn’t taken a position yet on the
tuition freeze.
Sen. Kurt Schrader, D-Canby, co-chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee, cited a variety of funding sources for the $300 million
difference in the two estimates.
“We’re basing our programs and services funding level on the revenues we expect to get over the next two years,” Schrader said.
“Based on my observations, we really have turned a corner in this state,” he said of the economy. “We’re actually able to move forward on this without a general tax increase.”
Rep. Wayne Scott, R-Canby, Joint Ways and Means Committee co-chair, commented in a press release.
“The only way to raise that kind of money is by digging into Oregonians’ wallets,” said Scott. “Oregonians are tired of the legislature putting its hand out, and the House won’t stand for it either.”
The Democratic proposal includes the
elimination of $25 million in tax breaks.
“I think every Oregonian is ready to get rid of these tax breaks that don’t benefit the general Oregon population,” Schrader said.
“You’re finding your Senate Democrats are very cognizant of the high cost of tuition for these young men and women,” he said, adding that public college enrollment has begun to level off or decline. “It doesn’t do any good to have the best universities in the country if (students) can’t afford it.”
Sen. Richard Devlin, D-Tualatin, chair of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on
Education, said students would benefit even if tuition increases could be held to 2 or 3 percent.
“There appears to be a clear desire in at least part of the senate to see what can be done to freeze tuition,” said Devlin. “I know that there are parties on both sides of the aisle that are supportive.”
The proposal needs support in both chambers from both political parties, Devlin added.
ASUO President and Oregon Student Association Chair Adam Petkun said he believes Oregon students have scored a victory.
“This is the single most important issue regarding access to post-secondary education,” Petkun said in a press release.
“I think that to have the Senate Democrats come out and take
a stand on student tuition is really commendable,” he added in an
interview.
Petkun said he doesn’t believe a 2 to 3 percent increase is good enough for Oregon students.
“I think we’ve already passed the point where students are starting to be priced out of education,” he said. “The problem is that
the state hasn’t stepped up to
fund higher education. The best way to make sure that students have access to higher education
is to make tuition affordable
and make sure that need-based aid is available.”
Petkun said he hopes to work with Republicans to find a way to fund the freeze.
“Access to education is not a partisan issue,” he said.
Oregon Student Association Spokesman Arlie Adkins said he hopes Republicans will support the tuition freeze as well.
“They just have a different philosophical approach,” Adkins said. “They haven’t come out and said that they’re opposed to any specific programs.”
The OSA has been lobbying intently for the tuition freeze since the legislative session opened in early January. Adkins said he thinks the efforts have paid off.
“It’s not just a coincidence,”
he said.
“The fact that it’s out there as a proposal is an improvement,” Adkins added. “It puts us in a great position to start having conversations about it.”
Petkun said he hopes to mobilize University students in the
lobbying effort.
“We still have a long way to go to make sure that the legislature prioritizes higher education,” said Petkun. “We need every student who’s interested to drop by our
office and find out how they
can be involved in funding a
tuition freeze.”
“It’s going to take a lot of work on our part and on the part of
the people proposing it,” Adkins said. “Who knows where we’ll be when they bang that gavel to close the session.”
Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s recommended budget suggested limiting annual tuition increases to between 5 and 7 percent. Tuition rates have risen by more than
10 and 9 percent in the last two years, respectively.

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