House budget bill criticized for stance on higher-ed funding

MPR's Tom Scheck reports on the state House passage of a budget bill that, among other things, cuts $185 million from a funding increase to the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, leaving them with essentially flat funding from this year to next.

He quotes Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, who criticized Republicans for the cuts, saying the bill would force those schools to raise tuition:

"It's a real turkey and it's just a shotgun approach and there's really been no thought. There's been no real critical thinking about this bill and how it's going to affect people and how it even beings to approach solving our budget crisis."

Senate leaders apparently want to pass their own budget bill next week. After that, the two versions would have to be reconciled, and a modified bill would go to the governor.

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