The Senate has passed its version of the higher education budget.
Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Ray Holmberg (R-Grand Forks) used a “Goldilocks” analogy to describe his committee’s action.
"We had Goldilocks going to the House and finding one bowl of porridge a little too hot, and you could lable that the 'Executive Recommendation,'" said Holmberg in his floor speech, explaining the Senate changes to the bill. "One of the bowls was too cold, and that would be the House amendments to the bill. So we ate the middle bowl, which was really right down the middle."
Holmberg says Governor Dalrymple’s budget recommended a 19 percent increase in spending for the state colleges and universities – but he says the Senate’s version is an increase of 9 percent…which is what other agencies are receiving. The bill also contains a tuition cap of 2.5 percent. And Senate Minority Leader Mac Schneider (D-Grand Forks) says he likes that language.
"It gives a measure of predictability to our students across the state," said Schneider. "The bottom line for the people I represent is fewer trips to the blood bank."
The bill passed 45 t0 2. It now goes back to the House, and will likely end up in a conference committee.
