Don't let any of the Third World States, California, Oregon, etc, know that we have any extra money... California might come after the money to pay for illegal immigrants schooling and Oregon might use it to fund their "certified gas pumper" program.

...more campaign donations from the cruise industry was he?

where the substance in this story. For the specific of whose rates are going to go up is fairly important information. All employers do not pay the same rate. It is based on what is generally refereed to as the experience factor for an industry group. Without specifics as to what industry group is going to pay more based on the UI claims of that group what we have is a complaint of the governor and a politician without any information on whose going to be affected.

For example if the increase is based on an increase in the number of individuals in the retail sales (tourist shops) collecting higher benefits for a longer time then perhpas those employers contribution need adjustment. The UI contribution rate for employers is not the same for all employers.

As I said there is a lot of politics being bantered about at this time with little supporting information.

Yes, you are correct. California does have the largest GDP. On the other hand, the idiots try to give people living in their state illegally educational benefits to go to college. They let illegal immigrants file workers comp claims, a fund to which they never contributed a penny. They tax businesses right out of their state. They aren't "an" example of social welfare, they are "the" example of social welfare.

It doesn't matter what your GDP is, what matters is, can support your own social programs without begging for money from the fed. And I really find it unfair that even a penny of my tax dollars going to the fed to pay for California to send their illegal aliens to go to college. Sure, it's not direct money. It's called assistance or bailout or whatever. It might fund a non-welfare program, but California can then divert money from that program to pay for their social programs.

Ignorance is more expensive to society in the long run than education.

I have no problem with my tax dollars going to educate anyone who needs it, unless those tax dollars are going for "merit based" scholarships to rich kids whose college education was paid for by a trust fund while they were still in diapers.

Think about it...

If we pay to educate illegal aliens, they get jobs, pay taxes and they add to the economy.

If we deny education to anyone, they remain on welfare for life because they have no skills that will get them a job.

But republipukes never believe in education which is why they always want to slash it. Look at Rick Perry for example! He wants to do away with the Department of Education!

As for merit based scholarships which our Governor promotes, this is not fair. Some kids will breeze through high school with straight As with no effort whatsoever, while someone else who studies his butt off will only receive Bs or Cs across the board. Let's not reward someone simply because they are brighter than someone else. Let's offer the opportunity of education equally to everyone, and let's offer scholarships to those who can least afford an education, not someone who is naturally gifted whose education is already paid for.

Alaska needs doctors AND car mechanics, not just doctors.

@PeytonPlaceAK: how is a university education a limited resource? We can certainly pack more people into those rooms.

A college education benefits you in far subtler ways than just getting a job (unless you got a business degree). College education shouldn't just be free to every American, but mandatory.

Think about it. We all vote, and an informed electorate is a functional electorate. A more educated person will be able to apply their knowledge in many places throughout their life, whether it be as simple and insignificant as getting a Samuel Coleridge reference in a movie to something as important as seeing through the lies of a politician or a car salesman or a sensational headline in the news.

It also exposes people to what's out there. How many people miss out on more rewarding career paths because they weren't exposed to them or because of lack of opportunity?

Let's educate everyone, be ambitious, better ourselves for its own sake. Refuse to accept ignorance, mediocrity, or personal stagnation.

I never said to make 'university education' available to everyone, I simply said 'education.' Not everyone is destined for university education.

Trade schools, correspondence classes, universities and grad schools are all under the umbrella of "education."

But, having said that, I am in favor of offering the OPPORTUNITY of a university education (or any other education) to anyone who feels they can handle it. If they can't handle it, their test scores will weed them out of the process. So will the SAT. But at least offer them the opportunity. If they don't pass an SAT, then they wouldn't get a scholarship since they can't get into college. But if they do pass the SAT and get into college, give them a scholarship if they financially need it.

But everyone deserves the opportunity if they want it, not just kids of the 1%. It is incredibly difficult and expensive for the kids of middle class to attend college. Trust me. I was one of them.

aren't we?