Big hurdle for MnSCU money request — where will it come from? - Nathan Hansen, Winona Daily News

The Minnesota legislative session doesn’t start until next month, but lines are already being drawn over higher education funding requests. The Minnesota State College and Universities system and the University of Minnesota have both asked the Legislature for more money. MnSCU wants $97 million more for 2014-15, which would bring the state’s contribution to the system to nearly $1.2 billion. In return MnSCU has promised to cut costs and cap tuition increases at 3 percent each year at the system’s colleges and universities. Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona, said he has concerns about the requests. Pelowski was recently named chair of the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee, after the DFL reclaimed control of the chamber in the Nov. 6 elections. http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/article_9fc67108-3b65-11e2-99a1-001a4bcf887a.html