Pitt,+Penn+State+and+Temple+funding+would+be+restored+to+this+year's+level+in+agreement+being+negotiated

=By Karen Langley= =Published by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette= =7/21/12=

=HARRISBURG -- The University of Pittsburgh and other state-supported universities would receive the same funding next year under a proposal that legislative aides said reflects the budget agreement being hammered out.= =The budget proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett in February would cut funding by 30 percent for three of the four state-supported universities, including Penn State University and Temple University. A House panel this morning approved legislation giving those universities the appropriation they received this year.= ="They are being flat funded," said Steve Miskin, a spokesman for House Republicans. "Everybody is in agreement on that."= =Legislative leaders have emphasized the $27.66 billion budget framework announced with Gov. Tom Corbett on Wednesday remains tentative until they brief and receive approval from their members. Some funding items remain under negotiation, they said.= =Erik Arneson, a spokesman for Senate Republicans, said the Senate supports funding the state-supported universities at the current level, and he described such appropriations as "a likely outcome" of the budget process.= ="However, with some line items still being reconciled under the framework agreed to yesterday, it's a bit early to say that definitively," he said.= =The governor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.= =The system of 14 state-owned universities would sustain a 20 percent funding cut under the budget proposed by Mr. Corbett. In May, the Senate voted to restore funding to the state-supported and state-owned universities.= =Legislators now are moving to restore funding for the state-owned universities, Mr. Miskin said.= =Both the governor and the Senate had proposed level funding for Lincoln University, the fourth state-supported institution.= =House and Senate staff began preparing spreadsheets detailing specific spending areas Wednesday night, said Rep. Bill Adolph, R-Delaware and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.= =House Republican members received their first briefing on the agreement this afternoon.= = = = Read more: [|http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/pitt-penn-state-and-temple-funding-would-be-restored-to-this-years-level-in-agreement-being-negotiated-641410/#ixzz1yTef9Quk] = = = = = =news= =home=