Governor Kitzhaber, consolidating power over all things education - Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian

Gov. John Kitzhaber sought votes at Portland State University just days before he was elected to his third term in 2010. Now he proposes to change the way public universities, community colleges and state college scholarships are run. Michael Lloyd / The Oregonian Gov. John Kitzhaber proposes to create a large state agency, the Department of Post-Secondary Education, to control state funding for the state's seven public universities, 17 community colleges, need-based college scholarships and Oregon Health & Science University. The surprise announcement, never floated publicly before Friday, was revealed when Kitzhaber unveiled his budget plan for 2013-15. If his plan flies, he will have personally selected all the key executives and board members running the main segments of Oregon public education: early childhood, public schools, community colleges and universities. http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/11/kitzhaber_consolidating_power.html