Florida's colleges and universities endured a grueling 2011 legislative session, unsuccessfully attempting to persuade Florida lawmakers to spare higher education from funding cuts amid a $3.8-billion budget shortfall.
Ultimately, the Legislature slashed state university funding by about 4%, assuming additionally that all schools will increase tuition by 15%. Lawmakers also cut the popular Bright Futures scholarship program by 20% and suspended the state's dollar-for-dollar matching gift program for large private donations to universities.
"It was a really tough year across the board ... a very, very tough year from the budgetary standpoint," says Mark Walsh, who lobbies on behalf of the University of South Florida.
Private institutions shared the pain. Lawmakers reduced funding for the Florida Resident Access Grant, a grant awarded to students who attend private colleges and universities in Florida, from $2,425 per student to $2,149. "We were at $3,000 per student four short years ago," says Ed Moore, president of the Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida, which lobbies for Florida's 29 private, not-for-profit schools.
Florida's private historically black colleges and universities also took a hit: Their $8.7-million appropriation is 7% less than what they received last year and 27% less than the $12.1 million appropriated in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
? Mark Walsh
Government relations director, University of South Florida
 Mark Walsh? [Photo: Mark Wemple] |
Smoke and mirrors: Two years ago, Walsh had to dispel a rumor that University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft had spent $2 million on a fancy yacht. The boat was actually a 15-year-old marine research vessel that USF had purchased to replace a 40-year-old vessel. Walsh says that certain "legislative personnel" wanted lawmakers to think otherwise to divert funding to their preferred project. "Misinformation and disinformation can be powerful — particularly when the timeframes are short," says Walsh.
Teamwork: "Sometimes our outside supporters have trouble seeing us all succeed because that football rivalry penetrates the legislative rivalry as well — but most of that is not driven internally by the universities or their lobbyists," says Walsh. "This year ... we're working together more than we're working apart."
? Kathleen Daly
Assistant vice president for governmental relations, Florida State University
Challenges: Changes to the state employee pension system — workers will have to contribute 3% of their salary to their retirement plan — will hurt universities when it comes to recruiting new faculty.
 Kathleen Daly? [Photo:Ray Stanyard] |
Unified strength: Representatives of the state universities "gather regularly during session, and we share our intelligence and we strategize together," says Daly.
Insider tip: "Don't burn bridges because your adversary one day may be your ally the next. Not may be — will be. That's the way this process works."
? Yolanda Jackson
Attorney, Becker & Poliakoff
Represents: Bethune-Cookman (Daytona Beach); Edward Waters (Jacksonville); Florida Memorial University (Miami)
Challenges: Historically black schools traditionally are associated with Democratic legislators but received their greatest allocation — more than $12 million — under Republican Govs. Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist. Gov. Rick Scott's budget proposal eliminated funding for all but one black Florida university, but the Legislature restored the appropriations.
 Yolanda Jackson? [Photo: Daniel Portnoy] |
No. 1 rule of lobbying: "Tell the truth and tell both sides of the story. Sometimes your side is not necessarily the best side. Legislators and your clients appreciate you telling it to them straight," she says.
? Jane Adams
Vice president of university relations, University of Florida
 Jane Adams meets with state Sen. Steve Oelrich.? [Photo: Eric Zamora/UF] |
The "E" word: "Since earmarks have dried up," she says, "we're not looking to Congress so much for that sort of federal funding," but federal contracts and grants continue to fuel university research. UF receives more than $600 million annually for research.
Victories: The schools defeated a House bill that would have deregulated athletic agents, potentially opening the door to more NCAA violations.
? Student Reps
University officials aren't the only ones playing the higher-ed lobbying game. At least three university student government associations have hired contract lobbyists in Tallahassee: The University of Central Florida Student Government Association pays GrayRobinson $40,000 for lobbying services; the University of Florida Student Government Association has Capital City Consulting on a $25,000 retainer; and the Florida State University Student Government Association pays Pittman Law Group $60,000.
 Sean Pittman? [Photo: Pittman Law Group] |
Big Presence = Big Money
Florida colleges and universities have a significant lobbying presence at both the federal and state level.
Most colleges and universities — and the associations that represent them — hire well-connected, private lobbying firms to press their cases in Tallahassee and on Capitol Hill. In 2010, contract lobbyists earned more than $3.3 million representing various colleges and universities in front of state lawmakers, according to a Florida Trend analysis of state lobbying compensation records. In their quest for federal dollars, Florida schools spent upward of $3.3 million lobbying members of Congress. Restrictions in state law mean the schools typically pay for lobbyists with funds from their foundations.
| Federal Lobbying (2010) | |
| Institution | Lobby Expenses |
| University of Miami | $587,918 |
| State University System of Florida | 460,000 |
| University of South Florida | 400,000 |
| University of Florida Foundation | 280,000 |
| Florida International University | 348,499 |
| Nova Southeastern University | 360,000 |
| Keiser University | 210,000 |
| Florida Atlantic University | 120,000 |
| University of Central Florida | 120,000 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | 100,000 |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | 85,000 |
| Barry University | 80,000 |
| Florida A&M University | 70,000 |
| Florida State University | 55,000 |
| Source: Center for Responsive Politics | |
| State Lobbying (2010) | |||
| Institution | Lobbying Firm | Legislative | Executive (range) |
| Barry University | Corcoran & Johnston | $20,000 | $2 - $19,998 |
| Holland & Knight | 0 | 30,002 - 69,996 | |
| Bethune-Cookman University | Becker & Poliakoff | 20,000 | 0 |
| Brevard Community College | Spearman Management | 15,000 | 10,000 - 19,999 |
| Brevard Community College Foundation | Spearman Management | 65,000 | 50,000 - 79,997 |
| Dade Medical College | Cruz & Co. | 30,000 | 20,000 - 39,998 |
| Dutko Worldwide | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| Edward Waters College | Becker & Poliakoff | 20,000 | 0 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Pennington Moore Wilkinson Bell | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 |
| Florida Association of Community Colleges | Governmental Solutions | 10,000 | 2 - 19,998 |
| Southern Strategy Group | 60,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools & Colleges | Mortham Governmental Consultants | 60,000 | 40,000 -79,996 |
| Florida Atlantic University Foundation | Southern Strategy Group | 60,000 | 4 - 39,996 |
| Florida International University Foundation | ADF Consulting | 20,000 | 0 |
| Florida Consultants | 60,000 | 0 | |
| Floridian Partners | 40,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| Gomez Barker Associates | 35,000 | 0 | |
| Johnson & Blanton | 60,000 | 40,000 - 79,996 | |
| Advocacy Group @ Cardenas Partners | 15,000 | 10,000 - 19,999 | |
| Florida Memorial University | Becker & Poliakoff | 100,000 | 0 |
| Florida Southern College | Florida Strategic Group | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 |
| Hodges University | J. Keith Arnold & Associates | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 |
| Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida (ICUF) | Frank N. Tsamoutales | 20,000 | 10,001 - 29,998 |
| Sachs Sax Caplan | 140,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| SKB Consulting Group | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| Advocacy Group@ Cardenas Partners | 40,000 | 20,002 - 59,996 | |
| Keiser University | Fowler White Boggs | 100,000 | 80,000 - 119,996 |
| Lake Erie College Osteopathic Medicine | T. B. Consultants | 100,000 | 80,000 - 119,996 |
| New College Foundation | Capital City Consulting | 60,000 | 4 - 39,996 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Corcoran & Johnston | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 |
| Panza Maurer & Maynard | 225,000 | 225,000 | |
| Smith & Ballard | 60,000 | 40,000 - 79,996 | |
| Rubin Group | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| University of Central Florida Foundation | GrayRobinson | 70,000 | 50,000 - 89,996 |
| Southern Strategy Group | 30,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| University of Florida Foundation | Brewton Plante | 60,000 | 0 |
| Moreton Consulting | 60,000 | 0 | |
| Smith Bryan & Myers | 50,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| Southern Strategy Group | 0 | 20,001 - 49,997 | |
| University of Miami | Blosser & Sayfie | 25,000 | 10,002 - 39,997 |
| Larry J. Overton & Associates | 0 | 80,000 - 119,996 | |
| Ronald L. Book | 140,000 | 0 | |
| University of Phoenix | Dutko Worldwide | 60,000 | 40,000 - 79,996 |
| University of South Florida Foundation | Corcoran & Johnston | 100,000 | 4 - 39,996 |
| University of West Florida Foundation | Heffley & Associates | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 |