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U.S. gender wage gap grows for first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids'; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

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Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Educators Call for Multi-Year Investment in SUNY/CUNY

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Thursday, January 26, 2017   

ALBANY, N.Y. – Educators say the state is on the right track, but needs to invest more in higher education.

Three weeks ago, Gov. Andrew Cuomo unveiled a plan to make the state and city university systems tuition free for low- and middle-income New Yorkers.

Testifying at state budget hearings this week, Andrew Pallotta, executive vice president of New York State United Teachers, praised the governor's commitment to higher education, but noted that over the past decade, state support of the schools has dropped by about 16 percent.

"Throughout the years, usually funding goes up,” he said. “When it's flat, it's a problem and when it's less than it was when the Great Recession hit it's even worse than that."

Pallotta says more state support would help hire more full-time faculty, expand support for students and expand course options, investments that would increase the on-time graduation rate.

The free tuition plan will cost the state an estimated $163 million. But the budget the governor has proposed for the coming fiscal year again would keep state support of the schools at about the same levels.

Pallotta says there are ways to raise the additional funds.

"With additional funding coming into the state from an enhanced millionaires' tax and also the carried interest loophole, we can possibly raise over $5 billion over the next few years," he explains.

Pallotta adds that changes in the way the state collects online sales taxes could bring in another $200 million over two years.

He also is calling on the state to increase funding for community colleges by $250 for every full-time equivalent student, and a multi-year investment plan that would increase funding for the entire system every year.

"We are asking something where the governor and the Legislature would commit a substantial amount of money to make these colleges the best in the country," he states

The union represents almost 80,000 faculty and staff in higher education.




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