Senate to chancellor: You're excused

After grilling University Chancellor Mark Rosenberg over his criticism that a Senate proposal to revamp for the third time in 10 years the oversight system of the state 's univerisities will continue to diminish the quality of education university students receive in Florida, Sen. Don Gaetz got testy.

Gaetz, chairman of the Senate Education Pre-K Committee, asked Rosenberg why he wants to keep the current system if it's so bad -- "a system by the way which you just indicted, by saying it's not giving Florida students the quality educaiton you deseve which is on your watch by the way,'' he said.

Rosenberg responded there has been a lack of consistently in the governing structure that has made it difficult to attract top staff and retain a focus on improving education. The first reorganzation, after voters abolished the Board of Regents in 2001 and adopted a system pushed through by former Gov. Jeb Bush, made recruiting difficult, he said. After the second reorganization, which recreated the Board of Governors, "we can demonstrate that while we have been strongly advocating for a public university system, the amount of investment has declined."

Gaetz responded: "That helps us a great deal...I think your testimony actually is helping to make" the case to pass the bill, he said. The committee voted unanimously for the proposed constitutional amendment to remove budget authority from the Board of Governors and give it to legislators. But before the vote, members of the committee grilled Rosenberg some more.

Sen. Larcenia Bullard, a Miami Democrat, complained about not getting personal visits from the board and asked Rosenberg: "Who are the Board of Governors? I don't know who they are?"

Gaetz then referred to a statement of Rosenberg's who had said he knew of no other state that allows politicians to manage universities. "Have you heard of the State of Virginia and do you know about how the university system of Virginia was created and who created it?," Gaetz asked. Rosenberg said it was Thomas Jefferson. "Do you know his first act was to ask the Legislature to take control over the university?''

Rosenberg said he wasn't aware of it.

"I've read the minutes, in Thomas Jefferson's handwriting,'' Gaetz snapped. ""Thank you chancellor. You're excused.''

Comments

[Dwayne]

Idiot Populists & ultra Liberals. The Senate is trying to destroy higher education in Florida. Wake up and smell the coffee.

Newflash for Jeb: You're not the Governor anymore. You don't run the show. You don't make the decisions. If the Legislature wants to pass this bill and let the voters decide, so be it.

[Ben Watchin]

Gaetz has lost his charm. If you want to know just how much Gaetz knows, ask him. This Jefferson BS is little more than a grandstand. Who cares what they did in the 18th century...the budget quite different and the complexities around education far less.
This is little more than scope creep by a bunch of Senators who think they are the 40 smartest people in Florida. It's a grab for authority that gaetz and company should stay away from....
Jefferson was also the father of the Republican party-forerunner of the modern Democartic party -that thinks government should run everything. Gaetz seems to be just that kind of Republican.