Quick primer on Refs C & D...

[Writer]

please?

[donco6]

1. Here:

http://www.cclponline.org/pubs/RefC.ppt

[Writer]

2. Thank you!

[randr]

3. Can the file be put into pdf format?

[pointsoflight]

4. Impacts on higher ed if they fail

CU:

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/education/article/0,1299,DRMN_957_4063649,00.html

That letter estimated the state would face a $400 million deficit if C and D fail, he said. One option calls for a 25 percent cut to higher education. That would translate to about a $38 million cut for CU, Kohrman estimated.

If Referendum C fails to pass and higher education takes a 25 percent state budget cut, the University of Colorado would have to raise in-state tuition by 42 percent just to balance its books, CU officials said Wednesday.

--

CSU:

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_3012783?rss

"Higher education will lose up to $400 million if the referendums fail.

CSU would have to raise tuition 30 to 50 percent to make up for a $100 million cut to higher education, and the university might have to raise tuition up to 400 percent for high-cost science and engineering programs, Penley said.

"Colorado is at a crossroads," Penley said during CSU's annual fall picnic. "We can privatize our public universities or we can begin to fund them at a level that continues their present missions."

[serryjw]

5. It frightens me when we agree with Owens

Are you sure we want C & D to pass?

[Bryan]

6. I think Owens is tired of wrestling with the budget

TABOR is not stimulating the economy as billed, and I don't think he wants to take all the blame.

[pointsoflight]

7. Most definately.

The impact of a C&D failure on higher ed would hurt our state dramatically. People usually think of universities strictly in terms of education, but study after study has shown that major universities are critical to state economies. Some even argue that nothing is more important. It is estimated that for every dollar that Colorado invests in higher education, the state gets $13 in return. The economic impact of CU and CSU on Colorado is estimated to $4.8 billion.

Again, it's not just about preparing our kids for good careers. Major universities also bring in tons of money. Major universities employ tens of thousands. Major universities attract top businesses who want to set up shop in a region that has a highly educated workforce.

It is nuts that we're on the same side as Owens on this, but even he or anyone else who opens up their eyes to the reality of the situation knows that additional huge cuts will absolutely cripple the state of Colorado and place us at a huge competitive disadvantage relative to other states.

For those who care about Colorado first rather than the agenda of the extreme wing of their party, this is really a no brainer.