The Spectator applauds Gov. Chris Gregoire for reinstating state need grants for college students.
But the temporary suspension of the state work study program will only serve the state in the short term. In helping to close the budget gap, this new budget policy puts the future of the state at risk.
Gregoire's latest budget is going to make Washington financial recovery even more difficult as more students will be paying back increased amounts of debt instead of paying into the economy after graduation.
And for those students who cannot find loans or take on greater debt, students may have to drop out of school into an already lackluster job market with little to offer them. Even low-paying blue collar jobs are now a rarity.
With fewer highly educated individuals in the state, fewer new jobs will be created through innovation. Though the work study funds will only be suspended for a year, the consequences of this decision will be felt for much longer than that.
For Seattle University, this budget will translate into $1.4 million lost in state work study funds, money that many students depend on to pay increasing tuition costs.
This means even greater student reliance on financial aid. This puts a greater strain on those offices and eventually increasing the need for work study in the future.
The fact the cut is temporary doesn't matter. Cutbacks are understandable, but a 100 percent reduction in support of state work study is too much.
Gov. Gregoire could certainly find other areas to cut in order to compensate for this year's difficult budget. It is commendable that she made budget cuts to her own office, but state work study should at least exist.
Concerned students, check your tuition bill for next quarter. Then contact your local legislator, write letters to the governor and speak up.
Reach the editorial board at opinion@su-spectator.com.
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