OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Every spring in Washington, college students become lobbyists for higher-education in Olympia. The Washington Student Association is the only such association in the country that uses students, and not a paid legislative director, to lobby the Legislature.
Legislators in both parties agree that higher education can help the state get out of the economic downturn. But college and university funding is expected to be one of the biggest targets.
Unlike K-12 school money, higher-education dollars are not protected by the state constitution. Lawmakers justify the cuts by noting that colleges and universities can raise money through tuition increases. And, because tuition at Washington’s higher-education schools generally ranks on the low end of fast-rising college-tuition rates nationwide, legislators believe there’s room for increases.
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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com
