Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is angry with the state’s public higher education system.

He said the colleges and universities have increased tuition rates too rapidly in recent years. He said they have to stop doing so and pledges to “limit” tuition increases.

https://www.texastribune.org/2016/04/26/lt-gov-patrick-excoriates-universities-tuition-inc/

Well, hot-diggedy, Lt. Gov. Patrick. How might you do that?

Here’s an idea: How about ensuring the Texas Senate — over which you preside — provides substantial state support for Texas’ public higher education system? That might enable college presidents and university system chancellors and regents from having to implement tuition increases.

The Texas Panhandle’s state senator, Republican Kel Seliger of Amarillo, chairs the Senate Higher Education Committee. Here’s a chance for the lieutenant governor to team up with one of his lesser favorite lawmakers to do something for the students — and their parents.

There once was a time when public higher education was a tremendous bargain for Texas students and their parents. One of our sons attended a great public institution, Sam Houston State University, after he graduated from high school in 1991. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and the quality of his education at “Sam” helped him pursue a successful career in his field of study.

I do not recall what we paid in tuition in the early 1990s. I do know it was a lot less than what students are paying today.

The political environment in Austin has shifted over the years since then. The state ran into financial difficulty. Lawmakers scaled back spending in all quarters. Public education took a huge hit.

Colleges and universities sought to keep carrying out their mission, which is to provide a first-class education for students. They can’t do it for free.

I don’t like seeing huge tuition increases any more than the next guy. However, these institutions don’t operate in a vacuum. They need help from their financial backers, which includes the lawmakers who govern the state’s public higher education systems.

Lt. Gov. Patrick is now part of the problem. Sure, there are many legislative solutions to be found, as Patrick has noted. One of them ought to be to pony up some more money.

Education remains a high priority in Texas, correct?