Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 24, 1995 TAG: 9507240113
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Jon Halberstadt, Christiansburg
The background:
Virginia Tech has seen its research and instructional funding cut by an aggregate of $46 million since 1989, a university spokesman said. Then-Gov. Douglas Wilder avoided a general tax increase during the recession in the early '90s by cutting spending, including in higher education. This year, Tech stood to lose even more via Gov. George Allen's proposed $12.2 million cut to the Cooperative Extension Service, which would have eliminated an estimated 400 jobs.
The General Assembly rebuffed Allen, but extension and other higher-education reductions are sure to resurface. Tech, like all tax-supported universities, is under pressure to "restructure" its operations - a polite way of saying do more with less. Tech also has felt the pinch in personnel. Since last year, 116 tenured faculty and 240 classified and administrative workers have accepted separate buyout offers. Some of those faculty positions will be filled with lower-paid employees. But the governor's stated goal for the larger buyout program is an overall reduction in the number of state workers.
The General Assembly's role:
This winter, Allen will introduce the state's 1996-98 budget. The assembly will debate and amend the proposal before approving the budget and sending it back to the governor for a signature.
The answers
The question was directed to the candidates for the House seat that covers Blacksburg, part of Christiansburg, northern Montgomery County and eastern Giles County.
Del. Jim Shuler (D): "After years of developing nationally recognized higher and secondary educational programs, Virginia has, since the early 1990s, diminished its commitment to excellence in education by allowing other state programs to receive a higher priority. True economic development only occurs through an educated populace properly prepared for meaningful, secure jobs in a highly competitive global marketplace. During the past two sessions of the General Assembly, I have fiercely opposed additional budget reductions for education, believing that they will severely impact economic development. During the 1995 sessions, I fought for funding support for higher education at Virginia Tech (for example, my successful Cooperative Extension budget amendment)."
Larry Linkous (R):"Economic development in the New River Valley is directly related to the strength of the valley's economic engine, Virginia Tech. The across-the-board budget cuts to Tech during the Wilder administration, which were supported by Wilder's friends in the legislature, caused much distress among faculty and staff at Tech. The loss of capable personnel as well as tens of thousands in research dollars was disastrous. Last year when budget cuts were proposed, a bipartisan vote of our legislature restored the vast majority of those proposed cuts. I will join with our other area legislators to stand up and fight for our district and its citizens."
Also on the record:
When it comes to rhetoric on this issue, Shuler and Linkous could be running mates. Given the district's economic dependence on Tech, that's no surprise. Shuler scored big points in restoring money to extension. He also has made education, including support for Tech, his main re-election theme. Linkous, like Shuler a former Hokie, has consistently pledged to fight for Tech in Richmond. Yet, on this issue, his beliefs appear to be out of line with the governor's intentions, at least as demonstrated in his budget amendments last winter.
What other candidates say:
In April, House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell of Roanoke County visited Tech with Shuler and spoke to the Young Democrats. Echoes of Cranwell's post-mortem on the '95 session and its effects on higher education could be heard in later comments by other candidates throughout the region, including state Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville. Cranwell has said increasing funding for higher education should be one of the legislature's higher priorities next year.
Got a question for the candidates? Send it to Citizens' Agenda, The Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010, or fax it to 981-3346 or e-mail dyanceyinfi.net. Please include your name, address, daytime phone number and specify to which candidates your question is directed.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB