Governor Schwarzenegger’s revised budget called for deep cuts and even eliminating some social welfare programs. But he’s proposed restoring money to higher education. C.S.U. Chancellor Charles Reed brought a number of University Presidents to the Capitol to lobby for that money—more than 350-million dollars.   Fresno State President John Welty says it’s particularly important in the Central Valley that is struggling with high unemployment.
“The fact of the matter is that there are jobs available but there are jobs that require a college education. And for the Central Valley to transform its economy we must increase the number of college educated people in that region.”

The C.S.U. Chancellor says if the funding comes through, universities could admit 29-thousand additional students next year. Governor Schwarzenegger says deep cuts over the past two years prompted his decision to restore some money to higher education. But he cautions that the proposals outlined in his revised budget are only the beginning of the debate.