By Dick Mason

Observer Staff Writer

Gov. Ted Kulongoski did not mention Horatio Alger during a hastily arranged 40-minute presentation at Eastern Oregon University on Wednesday morning. But nobody would have objected if he had.

Kulongoski shared a portion of his life story to demonstrate how serious he is about making sure that Oregon's colleges and university's remain affordable.

The governor, speaking before a standing-room-only audience in Zabel Hall's auditorium, briefly recounted how he grew up in an orphanage and later attended college via the G.I. Bill.

"It was the opportunity of my life,'' Kulongoski said, reflecting on a life story that would have interested Horatio Alger, the 19th century author who wrote more than 100 books in which heroes rise from rags to riches.

Kulongoski said he is worried that rising tuition, forced by state funding cutbacks, will make it impossible for all but the wealthy to attend state university's in Oregon.

"It doesn't do any good to have all of these buildings if students can't have access to them,'' Kulongoski said.

The governor said that eroding state support for education might revert Oregon to the pre-1940s era "when a college education was the luxury of the wealthy.''

Kulongoski is taking a number of steps to head off such a possibility. He is launching a drive to stop what he calls the "disinvestment'' in higher education. The governor has replaced seven members of the State Board of Higher Education. He is directing the board to focus on increasing accessibility to state universities.

The governor's efforts to revitalize Oregon's higher education system will get a boost should voters approve Measure 30, the temporary income tax increase that would raise $800 million.

Failure of Measure 30 would mean budget cuts throughout the state including the Oregon University System. Eastern, for example, would have to trim at least $364,000 from its budget.

"We need to stop the disinvestment policy and begin reinvesting in higher education. Measure 30 would be the first step in starting a reinvestment policy,'' Kulongoski said.

The governor emphasized that he wants to take steps to get higher education, community colleges and Oregon's public school system to work together more. Currently, all three compete for funding.

To help connect the three, Kulongoski recently appointed Gretchen S. Schuette, the president of Chemeketa Community College in Salem, to the State Board of Higher Education. This is the first time a community college president has been appointed to the board.

Kulongoski's stop at Eastern was the first of three he made to campuses Wednesday. The governor next flew to Central Oregon Community College in Bend and Southern Oregon University in Ashland.

At EOU, Kulongoski said Oregon will survive if Measure 30 fails, but the state's quality of life would be eroded.

"The truth is Oregon will not fall off the map, but it ... will affect your future and Oregon's future,'' the governor said.

He noted that the Oregon Health Plan would virtually end if Measure 30 is defeated.

The demise of the plan would ultimately hurt Oregon's economy, Kulongoski said. People who cannot afford health care go to hospital emergency rooms. Federal law prohibits hospitals from turning people away from ERs, the governor said.

When people who have no insurance or funds for emergency room care receive treatment, the cost is passed on to insurance companies. This means that everyone, including businesses, have to pay higher premiums for insurance.

"This is a disincentive for growing the economy,'' Kulongoski said.

A student asked if it is right to impose higher tax rates on Oregonians in light of what they already pay. The governor noted that the total taxes Oregonians pay put the state between 38th and 41st in the nation.

"The idea that out citizens are overtaxed is not true. We are actually a low tax state."