North Country Public Radio - Stefanik Focuses on Higher Education in Potsdam

News Article

By David Sommerstein

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is back doing what made her campaign so successful, visiting a dizzying number of businesses and institutions across the sprawling 21st district.

After several days roaming from Plattsburgh to Glens Falls to Saratoga Springs to Lake Placid, the Republican hit St. Lawrence County Thursday afternoon.

"I get the best ideas when I visit practitioners who have hands-on experience with both the challenges but also the positive stories that we can tell about the North Country," Stefanik said as she toured SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music yesterday.

Her focus Thursday was on higher education. She toured SUNY Potsdam's new arts center. As she walked into the costume department with a big smile, she explained she performed in musicals in high school. She had a light moment where she surprised a meeting of the student government. "Sorry to interrupt! What are you guys working on today?" she asked in front of a classroom of about 30 students. "Currently we are working on bills to bring different guest artists to Crane," answered one of the students. "I'm working on passing bills too," Stefanik laughed. "So we have that in common!"

Stefanik will sit on the House Education Committee. She said one big priority this year is to pass of a reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the first since 2008. She said, "Part of that will be addressing student financing and loans. I hope we include financial literacy, encouraging and incentivizing students to know more about loans that they're taking out."

Michael Sitton, dean of the Crane School of Music, said Congress needs to make sure passage of that act makes college more affordable. "How students of various kinds have access to higher education in an affordable way and then programs that help them succeed," said Sitton, "so that, not only can they get in, but complete programs that they need."

With Democrats and Republicans as far apart as ever on budget issues, passing anything will be a challenge. President Obama presented a 7 percent budget increase but Republicans in charge of Congress want to cut spending and reduce the deficit. For example, Stefanik and her party are against Obama's call for free community college tuition. The President's proposal will cost 80 billion dollars," said Stefanik. "25 percent of that will rest on the state's back, and I think there needs to be an assessment on what the cost to taxpayers is."

Stefanik also met with a roundtable of leaders from all of the North Country's colleges and universities at nearby Clarkson. John Wicke, director of strategic alliances at SUNY Potsdam, said meeting so early in Stefanik's tenure is important. He said, "We had a very productive meeting. We talked about economic development strategies, student visas, financial aid, Title IX. A very good discussion, very frank, and we looking forward to working with Congresswoman Stefanik."

Stefanik continued her district tour Friday. She will visit SUNY Canton and NuMed medical supply in Hopkinton in the morning. Then she will visit St. Joseph's rehab center in Malone in the afternoon, and speak at the North Country Chamber of Commerce annual dinner in Plattsburgh at 6 pm.

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