If We Can Bail Out Industry, Why Can't We Bail Out Education?

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This is so not far, just when people need the services that Community Colleges Supply, the funding to these colleges. Here are some facts about the proposed cuts in the Community College system in California at least. State leaders project about a $24 billion deficit. This is not just a problem facing the state in 2009-10. If all the Governor’s proposed solutions were to be adopted, the state would still face a $15 billion shortfall in 2010-11. The Governor’s proposed $940 million in cuts would close access for 250,000 students statewide – more than the entire UC system. The state Community College system has already added more than 150,000 new students this year alone, but is not being funded for 140,000 of them. Proposed cuts to community colleges are disproportionate to K-12 schools, UCs and CSUs. The state is proposing a tuition fee hike for community colleges from the current $20 per unit to between $22 and $60 per unit. Proposed cuts to categorical programs (CalWORKS, EOPS, DSPS, Matriculation, and more) are expected to be $85 million statewide this 2008-09 fiscal year, which could close access to 50,000 disabled students. In 2009-10, $334 million in cuts are proposed. UC is the University of California System and CSU is California State University System. I am sure other states are experiencing cuts like this as well. So why is it we are cutting education funding just when people need it the most? Does that make any sense to you?