Despite O’Malley’s generous higher ed. funding, national budget could slash spending - the Diamondback

While legislators in Annapolis hope to boost state higher education funding this year, lawmakers in Washington working to rein in spending could stymie those efforts. With the best budget outlook in Gov. Martin O’Malley’s more than six years in office — the state will not have to make drastic cuts or tax hikes to finish in the black — O’Malley’s proposed budget pours billions into higher education. Additionally, it invests in STEM programs, technology-driven course redesign and university research programs, drawing praise from higher education officials, including University System of Maryland Chancellor Brit Kirwan and university President Wallace Loh. http://www.diamondbackonline.com/news/local/article_a7d3ff8a-6c3b-11e2-a3b6-0019bb30f31a.html