The Joint Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education is set to examine the always hot topic of financing higher education today.
Budget cuts to California's public colleges and universities have resulted in tuition and fee hikes and professor layoffs, moves that have sparked protests by students across the state.
While education funding will likely take another hit in this year's budget battle, the hearing is aimed at exploring both short- and long-term solutions to funding higher education.
"The goal of this hearing is to understand how we finance our public system of higher education today, in relation to other successful models and best practices," said Democratic Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, who co-chairs the committee. "(Although) we are coping with a budget deficit now, higher education is the basis of our state's future economic development and quality of life."
California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott, California State Board of Trustees Chair Herb Carter, SCU Sacramento President Emeritus Don Gerth and National Center for Higher Education Management Systems President Dennis Jones will testify at the 9 a.m. hearing.
Also this morning, Democratic Assemblyman Warren Furutani holds a news conference to tout his bill that would seek to raise revenues by temporarily increasing personal income taxes for some of the state's highest earners.
The measure, AB 1836, would establish a temporary tax of 10 percent to 11 percent for individual Californians who earn more than $250,000 a year.
Backers say that change would raise $14 billion over the five-year span. The measure will have a tough time passing the two-thirds vote threshold for increasing taxes without Republican support.
The Senate Rules Committee considers confirmation of several of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's appointees, including Director of Finance Ana Matosantos and State Librarian Stacey Aldrich.
SEDER: Lawmakers are set to break matzo at the 45th Annual Herschel Rosenthal Capitol Passover Seder. Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and a host of Jewish lawmakers are expected to attend the 6 p.m. gathering at the Albert Einstein Residence Center. Holocaust survivor Ela Weissberger is also scheduled to attend the service.
DOG DAYS: Notice a lot of canines around the Capitol today? The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District is filming the latest PSA for its regional "Spare the Air" campaign at the Capitol this afternoon. The spot, which is being taped at Capitol Park and by the American River Trail, will feature several four-legged friends barking about the impact that poor air quality can have on both humans and animals.
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