Education Plan Reveals Nussle Not That Educated
Nussle released his education “plan” yesterday, which includes a call for more available AP credit, skills training, increased teacher pay, and guarantees that tuition won’t increase more than the Higher Education Price Index.
Sounds really fabulous, right?
Problem number 1: Nussle doesn’t know where this money is going to come from, as usual. Here’s what he told the Register:
Nussle said he had not priced the entire package completely, but it would be funded by “shifting stuff around” in the state budget.
Naturally Culver responded by pointing out how much Nussle sucks with money.
Problem number 2: Nussle ”guarantees” to hold tuition to less than or equal to the HEPI. First of all, the HEPI rises faster than inflation. Here’s an explanation of why by ISU President Gregory Geoffroy. Secondly, Iowa tuition is already indexed to the HEPI, and it’s not stopping exhorbitant tuition increases. Here’s a NYPIRG factsheet showing that indexing has not held down tuition.
In fact, just today the Regents increased fees at public Iowa universities by $200 because the legislature didn’t appropriate enough back in April.
So without knowing where the money will come from, or really having a new solution, I’m not sure I would take Nussle’s “guarantee.”
(It’s also skeezy to hold your education plan press conference at the high school at which your opponent taught.)
Add comment June 21st, 2006
