The Department of Education announced today that Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell will have to resubmit a federal stimulus funds request for Pennsylvania higher education schools, and will not be able to leave the four state-related schools (Penn State included) out of the $42 million that Rendell requested.

This announcement comes on the heels of numerous protests to the Department of Education from 14 of the state’s 19 U.S. Representatives.

Early last night, Representative Glenn Thompson (R- Centre County) received a phone call from the Department of Education saying that Gov. Rendell will have to reapply. Thompson told the Philadelphia Inquirer,

“Frankly, the governor doesn’t have the power to make up rules when it comes to these initiatives.”

The Department of Education rejecting Rendell’s plan could have major repercussions regarding Penn State’s proposed tuition hike. Penn State’s Board of Trustees voted to approve two separate budget plans, one with a relatively average 4.8% tuition increase, the other with an unprecedented 9.8% tuition increase. Which budget will go into effect is dependent upon whether or not Penn State receives federal stimulus money, and how much at that. This will be something to watch over the next month.

[Philadelphia Inquirer]

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