Journal of Education Finance

abstract:

This secondary data analysis of federal budget data sought to understand the impact of U.S. Senate reconciliation measures on higher education funding. Reconciliation is a process by which the U.S. Senate passes budgetary measures by only requiring a simple majority. Using data from federal budgets that stretched from the end of the Carter administration to the end of the Obama administration, this study shows that higher education receives more overall funding from the federal government when a budget is passed, rather than through a reconciliation bill. In the 30 years where a budget was passed, higher education mandatory spending saw an increase of 242 percent. In the seven years a conciliation bill was passed, mandatory spending for higher education decreased by 346percent. There appears to be no connection between American political party and the decision to use reconciliation in higher education, as Democratic controlled Senates have passed reconciliation bills three times, with two increasing higher education funding and one decreasing. Republican controlled Senates have passed reconciliation twice, with one increasing and one decreasing funding to higher education. Our analysis shows that advocates for higher education should seek policy reform in the traditional budget passage process, rather than through reconciliation.