Branstad: tuition decisions should stay with regents

DES MOINES – Iowa lawmakers should not inject themselves into tuition decisions that are under the purview of the state Board of Regents, Gov. Terry Branstad said today.

While stopping short of issuing a veto threat, the governor told reporters he did not think it was appropriate for a House panel last week to include a provision that would force a tuition freeze at the state universities for the 2012-13 fiscal year.

The House Appropriations Committee approved a budget measure that proposed a cut of roughly $31 million at the regent universities for the next school year and would force the schools to freeze tuition – a decision that would counter regent action to boost yearly tuition by 3.75 percent for in-state students next year. The Republican-controlled House and the Democrat-led Senate are about $65 million apart on higher education funding in their fiscal 2013 budget negotiations.

During his weekly news conference today, Branstad told reporters, “I don't think it's appropriate for the Legislature to make that decision” in proposing a tuition freeze.

“I think that should be made by the regents based on what the needs of the universities are,” the governor said. “I don't think freezing the tuition or having the Legislature impose a limit on the tuition is the appropriate way to go. I think the Legislature has a role in the appropriations process but I also recognize that the Board of Regents is the governing board that oversees the universities and I think they're the appropriate ones to make the decision about tuition.”

Branstad noted there is still considerable work to be done between the House and the Senate on next year's state spending plan, so he would wait until he sees what lands on his desk before deciding how to process.

“I want to try to be very clear – I don't think this is good policy but I won't make a decision on signing or vetoing it until we actually get a bill in its final form,” he said.