Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi says California's economy will come to a standstill if state leaders don't invest in colleges and universities. KPBS reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.
Garamendi was in San Diego to take part in the South County Economic Summit. He says over the past five years state funding for the California State University system and University of California has steadily decreased -- while student fees have increased. Garamendi says that spells trouble for the state's economy.
Garamendi : Free higher education that actually built the California economy, that gave us the scientist engineers skilled workforce is rapidly disappearing because we are literally taxing students out of the system -- slamming the door on low and moderate income students.
Garamendi is a non-voting member on the CSU and UC board of regents. He's working on a proposal to make state lawmakers approve any student fee hikes. He's also drafting an alternative budget that would fully fund higher education.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
