IFS Minutes – 4/6/01 (Salem) & 4/7/01 (Corvallis)

 

Present: Bill Danley (SOU), Marc Levy (SOU), Marye Hefty (OIT), Elaine Deutschman (OIT), Gary Tiedeman (OSU), Bruce Sorte, Elizabeth Boretz (EOU), Bob Turner (WOU), Craig Wollner (PSU), Duncan Carter (PSU), Jim Lundy (OSU), Scott Burns (PSU), Kirsten Lampi (OHSU), Marie B. (OHSU), Jim Isenberg (UO), N. Christopher Phillips (UO)

 

4/6/01

 

1.     Concern expressed over not knowing about the joint meeting with AOF and AAUP ahead of time. Changing gears, we’ll go to Corvallis tomorrow morning for that meeting, which will include

2.     Lane Shetterly, Speaker Pro Tempore (R-Dallas) – first visitor – announced that Governor will be coming down today to speak in support of his budget proposal.

a.     Waiting for the May forecast to see where we’ll be for the next biennium. Nervous because the December forecast declined.

b.     Rainy Day Fund? –

i. Lots of discussion about a rainy day fund.

ii. One idea – raise it over time incrementally – may not work

iii. Use the general school fund? – already there, funded, and has $$ in its coffers.

3.     Senator Cliff Trow (D-Corvallis), Ways & Means Committee

a.     Work session on Higher Ed’s budget on Monday.

b.     Will put together a fairly stark budget based on governor’s numbers, but with the idea of “add backs”

c.     Reminded us that the governor has already recommended putting money back into original budget proposal.

d.     Hartung, Winters, Schrader are on human resources subcommittee.

e.     There’s not enough money to go around at this point.

f.      “Kicker” Money – Republican caucus very opposed to use of this. Would be an act of courage for a congressperson to vote for its use – need our help and support. He is planning to vote for it.

g.     Should target Senators George & Miller who are actively leading the charge against it.

h.     Remain aware that we are in a process of re-districting the state, and when finished, districts may look very different than they do now.

4.     Representative Mark Simmons (R-Elgin), Speaker of the House

a.     Budget has grown faster than our resources.

b.     Perceptions of Oregon faculty – perceptions are an important consideration – people often make their decisions based on them.

i. His perception – faculty are a very liberal group, all democrats, and will never vote for a Republican.

ii. Thinks Governor & Democratic Party take us for granted – we can be “kicked” and we’ll still be here.

iii. The reason money goes to K-12 rather than Higher Ed is that OEA (Oregon Education Assn.) “kicks butt” on Capitol Hill: Heavy lobbying, huge $$ coffers for campaign contributions, etc.

2.     Group generated ideas about increasing our influence on congress people.

a.     Ask corporations and other employers around the state to come to our defense – to share with legislators how we contribute to the state economy by training present & future workers.

b.     Increase support for lobbying groups.

c.     Others

3.     Academic Council Report (Gary Tiedeman)

a.     See attached minutes.

4.     February 16 OSBHE Meeting Report (Craig Wollner)

a.     See attached summary.

5.     Debbie Runciman, Special Assistant to Rep. Kelly Wirth (D-Corvallis)

a.     Most effective ways to approach legislators…

i. Have a nice neat piece of paper with “points”

ii. Need to be clear about what we do, who we are, what legislative issue we’re concerned about, how or why this issue affects us, them, their constituency, etc.

iii. BRIEF 1-page, making your point directly, bulleted points reflecting your position(s).

iv. Separate page for specific bill and/or piece of a bill.

v. Find out what your specific legislator’s preferences are, bills they’re most interested in, etc.

b.     How does a typical workweek go for individual legislators?

i. Each legislator is a member of various committees – have to track where legislators will be based on these memberships and their schedules.

ii. Floor sessions are largely ceremonial, most work occurs in committees. As session goes on the balance in time shifts, with more time spent on the floor voting on bills and less time in committees. Amendments can only be introduced in committees.

2.     Bruce – let the legislators know that the RAM model is NOT working for us. In fact, even when schools get particular funding, the faculty are not necessarily seeing the benefits of that funding.

 

3.     Next meeting to be held at U. of Oregon on June 1-2.

Saturday, 4/7/01 – Joint Meeting of IFS, AOF, AAUP – Corvallis

 

1.     OSU President Paul Risser

a.     On avg., person w/college degree makes $21K more than without. Our work therefore is very important to Oregon’s future economy.

2.     Senator Cliff Trow

a.     Every session is a struggle.

b.     Thanked our organizations for efforts to fight for “decent” budgets for higher ed.

3.     Senator David Nelson

a.     We should no longer look at education as K-12, but rather “K thru Grey” – ongoing lifelong learning.

b.     Legislature has $12 Billion to allocate this year. We’re mainly dependent on income tax – about 86%.

c.     Importance of making our voices heard – use email more!

4.     Representative Kelley Wirth

a.     Not only do we need to push for the $96.1 Million to fund the basic RAM, but we need more – to drop the 4% tuition increase for students and more.

b.     Strong encouragement to make personal contacts with legislators.

5.     Senator Tom Hartung

a.     Chairman of Ways & Means subcommittee on education.

b.     We should not consider higher ed. funding the same as other “expenses.” Higher ed. should be such a high priority that it should take precedence over even other human services programs.

c.     Higher ed. returns $5 or $6 for every $ spent.

d.     Somehow we will do more than what the Governor proposed, even beyond the $45M added back.

e.     Encourage each University to act more like entrepreneurs in raising funds for endowments, etc. Act more like private institutions in this regard.

f.      Kicker Law comes from the 1979 legislative session – when state revenue income exceeds 2% of the forecast, it will all be returned.

i. During last election, it was voted into the state constitution that the Kicker must be returned each budget.

ii. The May 14th revenue forecast is critical, but the money doesn’t get finalized and spent until later this year (September thru December?).

6.     Senator Kate Brown - Big Picture – Big Issues they’re grappling with…

a.     Term limits have decimated the relationship processes necessary for long-term good.

b.     Energy –

i. 80% of voters against restructuring & de-regulation –

ii. Has made the urban / rural divide worse – perception is that we’re not willing to threaten urban economy to protect species while doing just that to the rural economies.

c.     Many Budget Issues

i. Cuts to SCF, AFS, and other state programs.

ii. Only 3 states rank lower in affordable higher education.

(1)  It’s become cheaper for some families to send their children out of state – where out-of-state tuitions are more affordable than Oregon’s in-state tuitions.

iii. K-12 – mandated funding by Oregon Constitution now, while higher ed does not get the same priority.

b.     “Democracy is not a spectator sport” – get involved. Phone calls & letters are more influential than email, and legislators hearing from their own constituents is more influential than hearing from other citizens.

c.     “Higher Ed is good policy but bad politics.”

7.     Joe Cox, Chancellor of Higher Ed

a.     Oregon has made numerous demands/requests of OUS, and we’ve responded.

i. More accountable.

ii. More efficient.

iii. Broader statewide reach, etc., etc.

b.     We’ve kept our part of the bargain.

c.     87% of Oregonians polled are supportive of higher ed.

d.     The message is that the public and the legislature are behind us – like never before.

e.     At the time that the Bend and other service proposals were put forth, signs were that budget resources would be there for them.

f.      We have “icebergs” to be wary of…

i. Utility costs are rising – Natural gas expected to rise 104%, Electricity 60% - these must come out of the base.

ii. Health care costs also skyrocketing.

iii. Re: Salaries – Health costs tend to eat up the pie.

iv. Should we “spin off” as a separate corporation? Like OSHU? Many advantages/disadvantages.

8.      John Wyckoff – Legislative Director – Oregon Student Assn.

a.     OSA is not just a proponent of affordable tuition, but higher faculty salaries for higher quality.

9.     Since 1920 State put in $2 for ea. $1 that students paid in tuition. In recent times it’s been approaching a match. The Governor’s original budget, for the first time, would have put more onus on students than the state – approaching a 52%/48% split, the former on students’ shoulders.

10.  Lenn Hannon – Co-chair, Ways & Means Committee

a.     We have terrible representation in legislature largely due to term limits.

b.     Pity that we’re pitting one segment of education against another.

c.     Bill Sizemore has become the “4th branch of government.” Government is being sold to the highest bidder though the initiative process during elections.

d.     We need to be better prepared for the future – the next budget will be worse than this one.

e.     Advocate for sales tax – we already have sales tax on gas, utilities, alcohol, tobacco – we just don’t call it that.

f.      What does the Oregon Public and Sizemore expect to get for free?

g.     Measure 5 was a travesty.

11.  Lobbyists working for higher ed – Mark Nelson, Dave Barrows, Grattan Kerans

a.     Pushing restoration of basic service levels is a priority prior to expanding services.

b.     Must do everything we can to get the message to the legislature in the next 6 weeks.

c.     Next biennium budget is likely to be even worse – we must get better organized, need to influence public opinion.

d.     Kerans believes the tide is changing in the legislature toward support of higher ed.