In government, there is only one thing worse than indiscriminate spending: indiscriminate cutting.
The Republican-controlled legislature has routinely sought to close budget gaps with deep cuts in university-level education funding and welfare. But they neglect to realize the lasting externalities of these cuts. If Gov. Bev Perdue does not veto the Republican-backed budget, she will concede to not only a political defeat, but also any lasting hope of a bright future for the students of North Carolina.
This state has always placed a premium on education and it shows. The University depends on funding from the state, and the state depends on the University to produce the best young professionals this nation has to offer.
The excessive education cuts already placed on the University have hurt its ability to obtain and retain high-caliber faculty. The University routinely counters offers by private institutions headhunting faculty. This year, UNC lost 46 faculty to failed retention efforts and another 13 due to a lack of funds. If this continues, the University will lose prestige, exceptional faculty and students.
The legislature’s attempt to dismember the University system stems from a GOP-led effort. Republicans met in closed-door meetings and N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis advocated individual attacks on Democratic representatives rather than party-wide stabs to maintain a veto-overriding majority. His party needs five Democratic votes to push the bill without compromising. This bullying tactic affords the Republicans a majority.
Republicans have also used their majority to bully Perdue over federal unemployment benefits. She recently issued an executive order restoring unemployment benefits to 47,000 workers whose benefits were unexpectedly cut off. These federally-backed benefits do not even use state funds, but Republicans used them as a bargaining chip for a 13 percent cut to Perdue’s proposed budget.
The GOP is abusing its position as the majority party to steamroll opposition to their budget plans. Rep. Jim Davis, R-Cherokee, contends that an education is useless in a broken state but what good is a state without education?
Perdue needs to keep her promise and not abandon our education system.
Though an override is possible, vetoing the bill will send a message to the legislature and to the people of North Carolina.
