The Barometer Online

Issue date: 2/10/09 Section: News

Universities across Oregon are going to benefit from the $175 million stimulus package signed into law by Governor Ted Kulongoski last Thursday.

The stimulus package hopes to create 3,000 jobs and improve Oregon's infrastructure.

Oregon universities as a whole are receiving almost $88 million from the package, with over $60 million of those funds going to Portland State University and Western Oregon University alone.

The rest will be allocated to Oregon's five other major universities, with OSU receiving $13 million of those funds.

The Oregon Senate quickly approved the bill on Jan. 28 and it was then approved by the Oregon House on Feb. 5. Governor Kulongoski signed the bill that same day.

"With less than 30 days into session, the legislature crafted an Oregon economic stimulus plan that invests in needed repairs to our schools, transportation system and aging infrastructure, while at the same time providing jobs to help families and get our economy moving," Kulongoski said in a press release from the Governor's office.

The bill was far from a bipartisan endeavor with many House Republicans cutting down the bill as not being sufficient enough to stave off a recession.

"This package is being sold as economic stimulus, but it hurts our schools, our State Police and services that Oregonians need to survive this recession," said House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna in a press release.

"It will cost the state $19 million per year to service these bonds. We are increasing debt and locking up our budget, all in the hope that it might generate some short-term jobs and reduce Oregon's unemployment rate by 9/100 of one percent."

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Oregon unemployment has reached nine percent as of December 2008, the highest it has been in decades.

Even if the bill has passed with some controversy, leaders of Oregon University System institutions, including OSU President Ed Ray, feel the stimulus package could not have come at a better time, as was expressed in a letter to Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney.

"During times of economic downturn, colleges and universities often experience significant growth in enrollment, while simultaneously experiencing deep budget cuts that cause both immediate and long term harm for students and public postsecondary institutions."

These leaders feel the stimulus package will benefit not only students and university infrastructures but the entire state of Oregon.

Continued...

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