MEDIA RELEASE

Contact: Corey Stottlemyer, 410-841-3401

Legislators Criticize Special Committee's
Examination of Higher Education

(Annapolis, MD February 2, 2004) Today, Republican members of the House's Special Committee on Higher Education Affordability and Accessibility criticized the draft report of the committee. Created by the Speaker after the 2003 Session, the Special Committee of 24 members of the House was charged with reviewing the affordability and accessibility of higher education in the State of Maryland. A draft report of the committee's findings was given to members last Thursday in anticipation of a vote in approval of its content on Monday.

"This draft report has been railroaded through," said Minority Whip Tony O'Donnell, a member of the committee. "This committee has met five times over the last year for briefing sessions. There have been no discussions of recommendations or policy approaches. Then on Thursday, we were handed a report that we would be voting on today. As legislators, we best serve our constituents when we work collaboratively, not when we rubberstamp important policy recommendations."

Six of the Republican members of the committee submitted a minority report to the Special Committee today. The minority report touches on several issues not addressed by the draft report. Its final paragraph includes a recommendation that a blue ribbon commission comprised of stakeholders in higher education be established. "By issuing our own analysis of the report, we are looking out for the average family in Maryland," said Delegate Susan Krebs. "We talk about making sure that there is access to affordable higher education in Maryland, but I don't think that the draft report addresses the systemic problems that hinder this."

The minority report also calls the recommendations another unfunded mandate. The draft report recommends a substantial increase for University System of Maryland institutions. It recommends a significant increase in the corporate income tax to pay for this infusion of new funds. However, after less than two years, the revenue from the tax increase will not cover the proposed increases to higher education. "To follow the recommendations of this report would be fiscally irresponsible," said Delegate Susan Aumann. "This is the same old story of throwing money at a problem without addressing the root causes of it. A commission with all of the stakeholders at the table would be better at finding ways to make higher education more accessible and affordable for Marylanders. The minority report was given to members of the Special Committee at today's meeting.