In a newly released campaign plan, U.S. Sen. David Vitter, a front-runner in the Louisiana gubernatorial race, said students need “a stable, first-rate, affordable higher education system.”

The plan, titled “Stabilizing and Building Excellence in Higher Education,” says the economy relies on just such a system.

Vitter’s plan says that as soon as he is sworn in as governor, he will call for a special legislative session to enact “fundamental spending and tax reform” to prevent cuts to higher education — a situation that prevents young people from pursuing degrees.

“We need to absolutely and immediately end death by a thousand cuts and the budget instability, which cuts higher ed disproportionately over and over,” Vitter told the American Press.

His plan says this will involve undedicating other areas of the general budget so higher education isn’t a constant target. He says he plans to focus on the health of the budget. “We’re in a heap of trouble in Louisiana, in many ways,” he said.

Another way to encourage young people to pursue higher education, his plan says, is to reduce the time needed to complete programs and degrees. By expanding dual enrollment, the plan says, high school students will be given the opportunity to earn college credit before enrolling.

Vitter said he’ll tour higher education campuses throughout the state this month to visit with administrators, faculty and students.

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Online: www.davidvitter.com.

(American Press Archives)