As Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, takes on the role of majority leader in the U. S. House of Representatives, University faculty said they are waiting to see what actions the former chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce will take in reforming higher education in his new position.
Boehner has been active in promoting education legislation, specifically the College Access and Opportunity Act, which would reauthorize the Higher Education Act. Among the many issues the act governs are student financial aid, teacher training, graduate study and other college programs.
According to Politics Prof. John Savage, Boehner's new position as majority leader will certainly influence passage of this bill.
The Higher Education Reauthorization Act "still hasn't been passed in all its provisions," Savage said. But because of Boehner's new position in the House, the likelihood of the act passing is very good, according to Savage.
"When it comes [time] to conference with the Senate's version, it will have more clout value because he's the majority leader," Savage said.
According to Savage, the fact that Rep. Howard McKeon, R-Calif., is running for the recently vacated position as Chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce will also aid passage of the bill.
McKeon's subcommittee "basically crafted the Higher Education Reauthorization Act," Savage said. "Within that committee, that also enhances the likelihood of that bill going through the House and then being presented to the Senate."
Other University professors are unsure of the influence Boehner will have in higher education.
"Boehner is well familiar with all of the relevant programs and proposed legislation in the field," Politics professor Larry J.Sabato said. "Whether that amounts to anything remains to be seen."
According to Education School Dean David Breneman, Boehner's influence in the realm of higher education depends on the time he will be able to dedicate to issues in the field.
"He has much broader responsibilities in this new position," Breneman said. "I wouldn't assume he'd devote as much time to higher ed. On the other hand, to the extent that he might get something about higher education in his line, he's in a pretty good position to influence higher ed. legislation."
According to Breneman, if Boehner isn't able to focus as much energy on education reform, students may benefit.
"I don't think of him as a particularly favorable figure when it comes to core issues that would affect U.Va.," he said. "He had a lot of skepticism about higher ed., he was particularly interested in career ed., vocational ed. ... I think he was deeply influenced by and supportive of the student loan industry, and the funds that they make from student lending."
Breneman, was unconcerned that Boehner will no longer be serving as Chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
"I wouldn't see [Boehner stepping down from the committee] as a great loss for higher education," Breneman said.
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