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As we know, our President has called for colleges to reduce tuition. Tom Corbett, Governor of Pennsylvania proposed steep cuts in aid to universities in the state in a direct affront to Obama’s call.

Corbett’s proposed budget for 2012-13 seeks around 30% cuts in funds to Pennsylvania state, Pittsburgh and Temple universities. It is expected that funding to 14 state owned universities, including Shippensburg and Millersville would be reduced by 20 percent.

State officials state that 17 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania would need to face federal fund cuts of up to $230 million, as the state is expecting $719 million deficit in revenue.

Corbett skillfully shunned talking about his proposed higher education funding cuts in his budget address. Instead, he mentioned about the formation of a panel that would find out the ways to make higher education more affordable and accessible. The study group needs to report to Corbett before November 15, 2012.

Chris Borick, a professor at the Muhlenberg College said that these panels are more often tools that make complicated issues disappear. However, he observed that Corbett has a track record with panels. Borick added that Corbett depends on these panels in his short time in office. The Marcellus Shale plan that came out of the legislature shares some of the recommendations that came out of his task force.

However, the governor’s reduction in higher education financial aid conflicts with the president’s call for states to give priority to higher education. Obama said in his state of the Union address said that we cannot keep on increasing subsidies to deal with increasing tuition. It will make us run out of money. Obama stressed that the states should do their part in making higher education a priority in their budgets.

Corbett’s’ reaction was different. He proposed new reductions that match the 50% he wanted to cut last year. He did this while quoting president’s challenge to reduce tuition. Borick stated that this budget proposal does not do anything but increase the cost of students who want to pursue higher education. He added that Corbett’s proposal distressed him most.

Corbett appreciated Obama for stating that he would give incentives to schools that reduced their tuition with more federal aid and penalize the schools that increased tuition by reducing their funding. He also scolded Obama for leaving the states to rise up the tab.

Corbett said that he does not agree with President’s recommendations. However, he felt that President is right that the states need to confront problems. As expected , most of democrats reacted with resentment to his statement.

Mike Sturla, a democratic member of the House of Representatives Pennsylvania, stands up for school funding. He said Corbett did not realize what his budget would really do. He called the proposed cuts abandonment in responsibility to higher education. Jay Costa, D-Allegheny County stated that Tom Corbett’s proposed cuts conflicted with President’s call for reduced tuition directly. He said without reducing higher education cost, you cannot expect people to have affordable and accessible higher education.

If the proposed budget is approved by the General Assembly, every student, parent and employee will suffer from reduction in financial support.