As families across Connecticut work to put their kids through college, Connecticut House Republicans have recommended funding levels for higher education that would leave the state’s colleges and universities unable to cover a hole left by the federal government.
The House Republican caucus announced its budget recommendations Thursday morning, more than a week after the Appropriations and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committees approved the legislative budget proposal.
Among the Republican ideas was a plan to gut the higher education funding proposed by Democrats, who added an additional $380 million to support Connecticut colleges and universities in their own budget plan.
While the amount proposed by Democrats would help fund Connecticut colleges and universities and absorb a roughly $160 million shortfall left by expiring pandemic-era support from the federal government, Republicans have proposed to adjust their funding by just $66.7 million.
Senate President Martin Looney compared the Connecticut Republicans’ plan to the thoughtless cuts ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency run by unelected billionaire Elon Musk.
“Republicans have once again demanded DOGE-like cuts with little regard for how their policies hurt Connecticut families,” Looney said. “Their proposal would force our public colleges and universities to raise tuition and pack more students into already overcrowded classrooms. It’s a direct hit to students and parents who are already struggling with the cost of higher education. This is why voters keep shrinking the Republican caucuses—they’re more loyal to Trump than to the people of Connecticut.”
