South Carolina’s Higher Education Commission Defunded
Legislators love to wax poetic about defunding entities and seldom do. But South Carolina’s House made good on their defund promise.
From the AP Wire published on islandpacket.com:
SC House votes to defund higher education commission
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Commission on Higher Education could be forced to close next fiscal year under a budget amendment approved Monday by the South Carolina House, though the proposal’s primarily meant to send a message.
The House voted to transfer the agency’s $3 million administrative budget to the treasurer’s office on the opening day of debate on the chamber’s $7 billion spending plan for 2015-16. Debate continues Tuesday.
Rep. Jim Merrill, R-Charleston, said he hopes his proposal forces progress on the idea of creating a regulatory agency to oversee the state’s higher education system. That could include transitioning the commission into a Board of Regents.
South Carolina needs an agency that could prevent duplication and rein in growth at the state’s 33 colleges and technical schools, he said.
“They’re very good at saying yes to more programs. They see their job as an advocacy group, not a regulatory group. There’s a tremendous difference,” said Merrill, chairman of the Ways and Means’ higher education subcommittee. “We need to send a message.”
The idea of creating a college regents system has died repeatedly for more than a decade. Former governor-turned-congressman Mark Sanford campaigned on it during his first run for governor in 2002.
But Merrill said the fiscal crisis at South Carolina State University is drawing support for an overhaul, as the commission did not intervene or draw attention to the problems.
Comments
Even thought the vote was one simply to shine a light on the poor performance of the commission, major changes are needed. This is obvious when you look at the SC State debacle. When you let people throw money away, you need to be dumped.
In previous post, change thought to though.