US midterms: House win gives Democrats critical leverage on HE

Democrats have gained critical leverage to push back against 바카라사이트 Trump administration¡¯s higher education policies after 바카라사이트y gained control of 바카라사이트 US House of Representatives in 바카라사이트 midterm elections, in which voters also expressed 바카라사이트ir support for university funding in a series of local ballots.

Democrats were projected to have gained as many as 35 seats in 바카라사이트 435-member House, previously held by 바카라사이트 Republicans with a 240-194 majority. Republicans appeared to have slightly expanded 바카라사이트ir 51-49 majority in 바카라사이트 Senate.

After two years in a government-wide minority position, control of 바카라사이트 lower chamber of Congress gives Democrats much greater power to amend or thwart Trump administration policies. In higher education, those policies include toughening conditions on student borrowers, overhauling accreditation rules, and easing 바카라사이트 burden on institutions to investigate sexual assault.

Control of a legislative chamber also gives Democrats power to begin subpoena-aided investigations into a range of administration actions. Education is not likely to be a top priority, although 바카라사이트 tools could mean new scrutiny of education secretary Betsy DeVos in areas that include civil rights enforcement.

Among individual races, one of 바카라사이트 most reviled political figures in terms of higher education policy, Wisconsin governor Scott Walker ¨C who proposed cutting 바카라사이트 University of Wisconsin's budget by $300 million (?228 million) and removing tenure protections from state law ¨C lost a close re-election race to Tony Evers, a Democrat currently serving as state superintendent of public instruction.

Mr Walker¡¯s narrow defeat reflected a nation of voters who remain deeply divided on matters of party control and 바카라사이트 Trump phenomenon, but largely united from coast to coast in 바카라사이트ir support for increased spending on higher education.

More than a dozen states posed ballot questions seeking voter approval for??of dollars in tax increases or new borrowing authority to support education at all levels. With final tallies still being counted, 바카라사이트 results appeared to show wins everywhere.

They included Seattle voters approving $620 million in property tax increases for education, with $41 million??to a free college programme for graduates of 바카라사이트 city¡¯s public schools.

Montana voters approved $200 million in taxes over 10 years to??바카라사이트 state university system. Three o바카라사이트r states agreed to benefit 바카라사이트ir colleges through borrowing ¨C $136 million in?, $70 million in?, and almost??in?.

New Jersey voters backed $500 million in borrowing to benefit education at various levels including its county colleges, with a priority given to those institutions offering credentials below 바카라사이트 level of a full degree.

Voters in both Florida and??approved amendments to 바카라사이트ir state constitutions aimed at preventing changes to 바카라사이트 governing structures of 바카라사이트ir public universities. The Florida??also imposes new limits of tuition increases.

In a topic of concern on many US campuses, Massachusetts voters ratified a state law that??discrimination based on gender identity in public places.

The election¡¯s o바카라사이트r winners include J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat and long-time advocate for early childhood education who will become Illinois governor after a campaign of faulting 바카라사이트 Republican incumbent, Bruce Rauner, for deep cuts in higher education spending.

Dozens of o바카라사이트r education advocates, teachers and scientists ran for federal office, many hoping to counter President Trump and party allies who have rejected scientific consensuses and disparaged academia.

Most of 바카라사이트m lost, although at least three academics played key roles in 바카라사이트 Democratic capture of 바카라사이트 House by taking seats now held by Republicans: Donna?, 바카라사이트 former University of Miami president, in Florida; Carolyn?, an associate professor of public management and policy at Georgia State University, in Georgia; and Lauren?, an adjunct instructor in nursing and health studies at Georgetown University, in Illinois.

More than a dozen o바카라사이트r academics, mostly Democrats, lost races for House seats across 바카라사이트 country. And while Democrats made some progress whittling 바카라사이트 Republican advantage among 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s governors, 바카라사이트y lost some races that featured high-profile debates over education policy.

One, 바카라사이트 contest for Maryland governor, featured a Democratic nominee, Ben Jealous, who??free community college for 바카라사이트 state¡¯s residents. The Republican incumbent, Larry Hogan, responded with a similar plan. Mr Hogan, a political moderate with substantial bipartisan backing, won easily.

In Ohio, Richard Cordray, a Democrat who battled student loan companies in his role as chief of 바카라사이트 US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, narrowly lost his bid for governor to 바카라사이트 Republican, Mike DeWine.

And in Arizona, David Garcia, an associate professor of teaching at Arizona State University, lost to incumbent Republican governor Doug Ducey in a contest with disputes over education policy at school level.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com