Gov: State not doing enough for education
The state Legislature is not doing nearly enough to fuel higher education and public education in Utah, said Gov. Gary Herbert, but Utah has managed to minimize its debt by cutting back various programs.
Herbert said the budget plan on the table for this year will not include any cuts on higher education, and $111 million is going into public education.
“The trend is good,” he said. “It’s not where it needs to be, but it’s on the right road, oing in the right direction.”
USU College Republicans organized Herbert’s appearance on campus Wednesday as part of their Pizza and Politics speaker series. Few seats in the lecture hall were left empty and the pizza ordered fed about half the crowd. Many stayed until the end of Herbert’s presentation, ready to ask questions about their educations, the governor’s opinion on GOP candidates and Utah’s alcohol policies.
When Justin Hinh, president of USU Students for Liberty, stood to ask Herbert about alcohol policies, he said the answer he received was one he expected.
“My impression was that he desires for (alcohol vendors) to be privatized, but doesn’t want to take on the risk,” Hinh said. “He leads what he has. Utah is a very conservative state and even our Democrats are very conservative. I don’t see the governor reaching out, because he doesn’t need to — there is no point.”
Hinh said he also wouldn’t be surprised to see more budget cuts in the next few years, though Herbert conveyed this is not in future plans.
Herbert also took time to explain the success of Utah businesses but ensured students the job market would be competitive, because international workers, including businessmen in China, are looking to start or expand their businesses in Utah’s economy.
“We were listed as the best state for business in America, out of the 50 states, by Forbes,” Herbert said. “This is the second year in a row. It’s like winning the national championship two years in a row. Now, what a great coach am I?”
There are three points creating Utah’s business successes: competitive taxes, a regulatory environment and labor, Herbert said.
“If you have those three ingredients combined, you have a very fertile field for the economy to grow,” he said.
Recently, state leaders eliminated 368 regulations of the original 1,969. He said 48 percent of the total regulations apply specifically to businesses. This will allow Utah businesses to more easily achieve their goals.
Current college students will soon lead the country in politics and business, Herbert said, and he sees value in giving this generation an education that includes the skills they need to build a successful future nation.
“You are going to be prepared to take over,” Herbert said. “I can remember clearly sitting where you are sitting. It has been a very improbable journey for me … I never had any desire to be governor.”
Often, politicians who speak at USU address national issues, said Michael Rodgerson, USU College Republicans president, however, Herbert touched on issues close to him and looked like he was enjoying his interactions with students.
“He was able to explain things that might frustrate a lot of students,” Rodgerson said. “A lot of it has to do with our culture and is stuff we can’t change immediately.”
Casey Saxton and Brayden Smith, both members of the USU College Republicans, were put in charge of putting the event together, and Smith said he was happy to see so many students take interest in listening to a state official.
“I would be here even if I wasn’t in the College Republicans,” Smith said. “This is their state … and the governor has a lot of sway over what happens to them. It’s a good thing, first, to know who the man is and then what he believe in and what his policies are.”
– catherine.meidell@aggiemail.usu.edu
UTAH GOVERNOR GARY HERBERT visited campus Wednesday as part of the Pizza and Politics seminar series. Going into the 2012 Legislative session, he discussed the state budget, particularly regarding higher education. MIKE JOHNSON photo