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Clip: Season 43 Episode 7 | 3m 37s | Video has closed captioning.
Host Barry Anderson and guests discuss higher education. Watch Your Legislators live Thursdays at 8pm on Pioneer PBS or online at https://pioneer.org/live, or https://www.facebook.com/yourlegislators/ Guests this week: Sen. Bill Weber (R), District 21, Luverne Sen. Jennifer McEwen (DFL), District 08, Duluth Rep. Dave Baker (R), District 16B, Willmar
Aired: 03/09/23
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AND IT'S BECOMING AN EVEN LARGER PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.
>> Barry: HIGHER EDUCATION.
ONLY GOT ABOUT A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT.
VERY QUICKLY ON THAT ISSUE.
WE WILL GIVE YOU, SENATOR WEBER, THE FIRST GO.
HIGHER EDUCATION, WHAT DO YOU SEE FROM A FUNDING STANDPOINT THIS YEAR?
>> I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE.
I DON'T SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE.
I HAVEN'T HEARD A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THAT OTHER THAN WE ARE SEEING SUBSTANTIAL ENROLLMENT ISSUES WITHIN OUR COLLEGE SYSTEMS.
I KNOW SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN PROPOSING FOR TECHNICAL TRAINING REALLY HELPS OUR MINNESOTA COLLEGES BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MORE SPREAD THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT, AND ARE ACTUALLY WILLING TO PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE TYPE OF PROGRAMS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE DOWN THAT ROAD THAT WILL PROVIDE THEM AN ENROLLMENT THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVEN'T HAD IN MANY INSTANCES, AND THERE'S MORE I COULD SAY, BUT WE ARE RUNNING CLOSE ON TIME, AND I WILL LET MY OTHER COLLEAGUES SPEAK ON THE ISSUE.
>> Barry: SENATOR MCEWEN.
>> I WAS GOING TO JUMP IN QUICK.
I'M LIKE BILL.
THIS IS NOT AN AREA OF MY EXPERTISE EITHER.
SO I WANTED TO GIVE SENATOR A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME ON THIS.
BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE GOT TO GET OUR ENROLLMENT NUMBERS RIGHT.
I DON'T THINK FREE COLLEGE IS THE ANSWER EITHER.
BUT I SUPPORT MORE MONEY FOR STATE COLLEGES.
COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
IT'S OF GREAT VALUE.
I WILL FLIP IT OVER TO SENATOR MCEWEN AT THIS POINT.
I WISH I COULD ADD MORE.
>> Barry: FLOOR HAS BEEN YIELDED TO YOU.
HIGHER EDUCATION.
>> I WILL TAKE IT.
THIS IS A GOOD DISCUSSION.
I DO AGREE ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION THAT WE ARE SEEING IS JUST HOW FACULTY ARE NOT BEING PAID ADEQUATELY.
THIS ESPECIALLY GOES AT OUR UNIVERSITIES FOR FACULTY WHO ARE NOT LONG-TERM.
THEY MIGHT BE ON A CONTRACT TO TEACH A CLASS OR TWO.
THEY TRY TO GET AS MANY CLASSES AS THEY CAN.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF JOB SECURITY, BASICALLY ACTING AS CONTRACTORS.
UNIVERSITIES HAVE LEANED INTO DOING THAT TO SAVE MONEY.
IT'S ON THE BACKS OF THE TEACHING PROFESSIONALS.
IT'S NOT OKAY.
IT BRINGS ME BACK TO THE ISSUE OF YOU HEAR THIS A LOT FROM SOME OF OUR MORE CONSERVATIVE COLLEAGUES THAT NOTHING IS FREE.
THERE'S NO FREE LUNCH.
OF COURSE THERE'S NO FREE LUNCH.
WHAT IT IS IS A MATTER OF HAVING PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY, ENOUGH PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN OUR PEOPLE TO SAY THAT THE WEALTHIEST AMONGST US, WEALTHIEST INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS ARE GOING TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES.
WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE THESE BASIC PUBLIC GOODS FOR OUR PEOPLE.
OUT OF THAT, WHEN WE DO THAT, WE HAVE A SOCIETY AND A COMMUNITY THAT CAN THRIVE, THAT CAN COMPETE, OUT COMPETE NEIGHBORING STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S TRULY UNDERSTOOD THAT OF COURSE NONE OF THIS IS FREE.
WE ALL PAY TAXES.
WE PAY TAXES ON OUR INCOME.
WE PAY PROPERTY TAXES.
WE PAY SALES TAXES.
BUT WE SHOULD GET SOMETHING FROM THAT.
WE SHOULD GET QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICES FROM THE TAXES THAT WE PAY.
>> Barry: AND THAT IS GOING TO BE OUR LAST COMMENT FOR THE
