A local representative called for state legislators to give appropriations to Penn State and Pennsylvania's other three state-related schools at a press conference Thursday.
State Rep. Scott Conklin's speech focused on the almost $680 million in appropriations being held back while legislators debate the legalization of table games in Pennsylvania casinos. The lack of funding may result in increases to semester tuition bills, university officials said.
"I don't think we should be using universities as hostages to get what we want," said Conklin, D-Centre. "Every day this ticks by, we are looking at tuition increases."
Gov. Ed Rendell and other legislators say giving the appropriations to the state-related schools -- Penn State, University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and Lincoln University -- is out of the question. Granting the appropriations without table games being legalized is not only fiscally irresponsible but also unconstitutional, they argue, as the state will not have a balanced budget without table game revenue.
Conklin thinks if the funds are there, then legislators should consider awarding the appropriations.
"There are those that say 'Yes, we can write this check,' " he said. "I think we should."
Conklin acknowledged that awarding the appropriations could be potentially dangerous, resulting in a $1 billion shortfall late in the school year.
In a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, Conklin wrote, "It is the parents and students of Penn State and the other affected institutions who will feel the pain of this delay as they look to reorganize their own budgets to pay for their education."
The letter asked for the release of the appropriations.
"We do not want to strain the budgets of families with a virtual extension of the already embarrassing budget impasse," the letter read, referencing the main spending bill in this year's budget that was passed more than 100 days late.
In the letter, Conklin proposed taxing cigars and natural gas in order to balance the budget and allow the legislature to dispense the appropriations to the state-related schools.
Conklin said he is not sure how much longer the table game debate will last in the general assembly, as legislators and lobbyists from the casino industry spar on the cost of licenses and taxes.
"I would like to be able to contact President Graham Spanier to calm these waters with assurances that the funding will be forthcoming soon and that our Caucus stands with Penn State University," Conklin wrote in the letter to Evans.
