The Nevada Sagebrush

Students from seven of Nevada’s eight higher education institutions passed legislation last week to send Nevada government candidates a pledge to protect education.

Truckee Meadows Community College is still waiting to pass the legislation.

The pledge is modeled after the Taxpayer Protection Plan which seeks a commitment from candidates to not raise taxes.

“We feel that if candidates can sign a pledge to not raise taxes they can sign a pledge for education,” said Director of Legislative Affairs Casey Stiteler, who helped create the pledge. “We understand that education could get cut. We understand the state is hurting. But we mainly want to start a conversation about education and get candidates to pledge they won’t make drastic cuts that are going to eventually lead to the cutting of entire institutions or schools.”

The Nevada System of Higher Education lost 6.9 percent of its budget after the Special Session in March.

Early predictions estimate Nevada will face a budget deficit of about $3 billion by the next legislative session in February 2011.

Stiteler said it is critical to get candidates to commit to education with a pledge before the election.

The exact wording of the pledge reads: “I will oppose and vote against any and all efforts to decrease funding for higher education that may damage the institutional integrity of the NSHE or limit access to students.”

Students can go to fightfornevada.com to petition for the pledge. Total signatures exceeded 8,000 students as of Monday.

Nevada candidates will receive the pledge Sept. 30, Stiteler said.

Stiteler and his staff are working to make sure the pledge is sent both electronically and through the mail to every candidate running for statewide office.

The pledge will also be posted online so students can send the link to their representatives.

Emerson Marcus can be reached at emarcus@nevadasagebrush.com.

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