PA. College Funding to be Slashed by $257 Million to Pay for $248 Million Cut in Business Taxes

[JPZenger]

15. Governor's Deceitful Statistics

Corbett is playing deceitful games with his percentages for state universities, as reported today in the Inquirer. He compares state funding to the total spending of all aspects of a university, including self-supporting activities such as residence halls, dining halls and athletics.

The important number is the percentage of state funding compared to the ACADEMIC budget. Even more accurately, the state funding should be compared to the academic budget for in-state students. The out of state students pay full price and are not subsidized by PA.

Unfortunately, most reporters operate as the Harrisburg Steno pool, and just print whatever the Governor says, without an investigation.