Political Opposition to Proposed Higher Education Cuts

A local politician says that projected cuts to higher education would have “detrimental” effects.

District 16 Representative Katrina Jackson responded to questions about a potential loss of more than twelve million dollars to the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

 

Jackson says that the effects of House Bill 1 on higher education would involve serious harm to local post-secondary institutions.

 

For example, the University of Louisiana at Monroe said in a release today that the university stands to lose $12.3 million in state appropriations if the bill becomes law.

 

Jackson says that would result in a reduced quality of education.

 

“You can’t cut on top of cuts on top of cuts and expect that ULM will provide the same services and the same number of classes as they have in the past. We’ve already cut at ULM to the point where some classes are only offered once a year, some are offered every other year.”

 

Jackson says the university has already had to juggle a long list of cuts.

 

“There have been so many things that ULM has done to soften the impact and the blow on students. We can expect the next line of cuts, if they have to make them, will be drastic.”

 

Jackson is hopeful that the senate will amend the bill so that higher education will take less of a hit. She expects the senate to begin debate on the matter within a week.