BY CHELYEN DAVIS
RICHMOND--
Virginia's two candidates for governor promised to lower college tuition costs, help more Virginians get college degrees and make higher education a top priority if they're elected.Democrat Creigh Deeds and Republican Bob McDonnell spoke separately to the Virginia Summit on Economic Competitiveness and Higher Education, held in Richmond yesterday.
Both men also spoke of the connection between education and economic development, saying that Virginia can't compete for jobs and businesses in a global economy if its education levels don't match or surpass those of other states or countries.
Deeds, who went first, reiterated a higher-education plan he unveiled earlier in the campaign, one that focuses on making education more affordable for students. He proposes forgiving loans for those who go into service-oriented industries like emergency services and teaching; giving a 50 percent discount on tuition to state colleges for Virginia students with a B average or better who commit to two years of community service; guaranteeing loans for community college students; putting $40 million more toward need-based tuition assistance; and putting more focus on career training.
"College affordability is key to my education plan," Deeds said. "Every dollar invested in a student's future is an investment in Virginia's future."
He said he also wants Virginia to develop something like North Carolina's Research Triangle, but one that is focused on new energy technologies.
Deeds acknowledged that the trend in state education funding, especially with recession-driven state budget cuts recently, has been to cut funds, not invest them. He said that's shortsighted, and that the state needs sustained investment in education, not cuts.
"Cuts to education are like eating your seed corn," Deeds said.
McDonnell's higher education plans also involve making access to college more affordable and reducing tuition increases, as well as focusing investment on science fields to keep pace with other states and countries.
He described making college more affordable as "expanding access to our cherished American dream," and said a well-educated populace helps draw new jobs, making education critical to the state's future.
McDonnell said colleges must work to be more efficient and frugal, to help win state dollars, and likened tuition hikes to tax increases.
He said that as the economy begins to turn around, he hopes to push the state toward reinvesting in higher education.
"If we don't pay now, we will certainly pay later," McDonnell said.
He criticized Deeds and Gov. Tim Kaine on the issue, saying they have "come up short" in making higher education spending a priority.
McDonnell also went after Deeds for proposing taxes "to fund things other than higher education" and for voting for state budgets that cut higher education funding.
Overall McDonnell made much more mention of Deeds than Deeds did of him. He took the opportunity to "publicly debunk" Deeds' "preposterous" criticisms that McDonnell's transportation plan would take money from education because it uses general fund money for transportation.
The general fund is exactly what it sounds like--a sort of general catch-all in the state budget. Most transportation funding comes from a different fund. Dipping into the general fund for transportation would probably require something else to be cut, but while nearly half of the general fund is spent on education, taking money for transportation doesn't specifically cut education, although it would reduce the whole pot that's available for education and other spending.
McDonnell said his plan would take only a small bit of the general fund's existing revenues for transportation, and a portion of future revenues.
The education summit drew educators from numerous colleges, including leaders from the University of Mary Washington.
President Dr. Judy Hample said she thinks it's important to make the link between higher education and the economy.
Torre Meringolo, vice president for advancement and university relations, said higher education is a "sleeper issue" in the gubernatorial campaign, and he hopes the presence of the candidates will bring it greater attention from voters.
Chelyen Davis: 540/368-5028
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com