UW lobbyists to testify in Olympia

Kayla Webley
2005-01-11
The Daily

UW lobbyists and higher education advocates will respond to Gov. Locke's budget proposal at the first meeting of the House Higher Education Committee in Olympia today, providing testimony on issues ranging from proposed tuition increases to financial aid availability.

Staff members from Locke's office will present the budget for higher education as reported in the proposed 2005-2007 budget. After the budget is presented, committee members will hear from agencies and stakeholders invited by the committee to respond to the budget proposal, including UW student lobbyist Jamie Corning.

Corning said his testimony aims to show legislators that the UW needs more money to fight off tuition increases and student debt.

"We appreciate that Gov. Locke's budget does not propose significant cuts in higher education funding, but that simply is not enough," Corning said in his written submission to the Higher Education Committee. "Our state is headed in the wrong direction, and only a strong commitment by this Legislature to properly fund higher education will reverse the trend."