The Senate passed its Higher Education bill on Wednesday. Despite a record budget surplus and demonstrated need, the bill makes no investments in college affordability or support for students’ basic needs, and drastically underfunds public safety despite requests from the University of Minnesota.
Adding insult to injury, at the last minute, Republicans added an amendment that would eliminate supplemental public safety funding at the University of Minnesota unless they give in to unrelated demands about athletics. At a time when 90% of two-year college students are struggling to pay the bills and afford the rising cost of tuition, and when students are continuing to drown in college debt, this bill highlights where the GOP’s priorities are – and they aren’t with Minnesotans. (HF 3872)
