"Lawmakers eye universities' tax status"

[asteriskea]

<p>Short article in the Boston Globe from Bloomberg news:</p>

<p>

Rising tuition costs and growing endowments at Harvard, Yale, and other universities are drawing the ire of lawmakers who question whether the nonprofit institutions continue to deserve the tax exemptions they receive.</p>

<p>The Senate Finance Committee met yesterday to examine whether lawmakers should tie the endowments’ tax-exempt status to lower tuition. Lower costs at elite schools would probably have a cascade effect that would bring down fees at all colleges and universities, the committee was told…

</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/09/27/lawmakers_eye_universities_tax_status_1190875365/[/url]”>http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/09/27/lawmakers_eye_universities_tax_status_1190875365/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[weenie]

<p>Actually that terrifies me. It feels like an early move the fascists used to make to weaken academic institutions. Funny how they don’t seem concerned about the huge “endowments” various religious organizations enjoy. (Although that may be next.)</p>

[citygirlsmom]

<p>and this is surprising how…they are cutting loans, etc. and THEN we are surprised they go after institutes of higher education in another way</p>

<p>keep the masses stupid…</p>

[modestmelody]

<p>Not to mention the Spelling’s Report which barely falls short of calling for the end of institutional autonomy.</p>

[curmudgeon]

<p>This really doesn’t sound like a good idea. Nope. Not at all.</p>

[garland]

<p>Sometimes I think the present gov’t would like to turn the entire higher educational system in this country into one big University of Phoenix. It would be so much more efficient, right…?</p>

[bomgeedad]

<p>I think it is reasonable issue to look into. The elite universities are now more interesting in accumulating a large endowment than using it for educational purpose. It is reasonable to ask them for a minimum payout like other non-profit organization.</p>

<p>I especially like the suggestion of applying tax incentive for donors to give more to scholarship rather than athletics.</p>

<p>Here is more detail about the hearing</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/09/27/endowments[/url]”>http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/09/27/endowments&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[modestmelody]

<p>Garland, that’s exactly what the Spelling’s Report reads like.</p>