Sunday, March 6, 2011

Buy In, Don't Sell Out SUNY

Despite a concerted state tax payer funded PR campaign to convince us that once again that loser UB2020 plan is still viable, word is getting out that its nothing more than another transfer of wealth to the already rich and well connected.

Some SUNY students are able to see through the BS and confronted Sam Hoyt at his Saturday budget meeting about his support of this plan.

http://www.buyindontsellout.org

The latest regurgitation of UB2020, ala Mark Grisanti, includes a few crumbs for working class students in the form of handouts from $375 per semester tuition increases.  Its great to see students question a plan that will immediately funnel cash into special interest pockets while insuring that those paying the bills through tuition increases never see the buildings they are paying for.

It makes me wonder who has actually read the latest reincarnation of this pathetic retread of a bill.

Some highlights from the bill:
  • Tuition for those in professional programs can be increased under the bill to the lesser of the public institution mean or 15 percent of the base year tuition.
  • This bill requires the State to calculate TAP payments based on the tuition UB students are paying, Translation - NYS taxpapyers will subsidize all these tuition increases, not exactly the revenue nuetral plan that Simpson was touting.
  • Authorizes the trustees to provide for the sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of state-owned real
    property.  Your paid for it, a few appointed hacks can sell it to their best buds no questions asked.