Healthy forest initiatives, a cure for Valley Fever and minimizing war casualties with drone technology. These are all arguments Arizona’s three state universities are hoping will convince legislators to approve $1 billion in bonds as part of this year’s proposed budget.
Arizona State University President Michael Crow explained to lawmakers how that funding gives students cutting edge experience. For examply, engineering students are working with the Department of Defense on thought-controlled technology for combat drones.
“Those drones could then be collecting the information, dispersing enemy, offering kinetic outcomes to enemy combatants, all driven by a single soldier with as many as 10 drones flying around the soldier, controlled by their thinking," Crow said.
But, Democratic Sen. Catherine Miranda said her party is tired of funding the universities’ success while Arizona’s K-12 public schools are routinely ignored. At a minimum, they are demanding the budget include a 4 percent raise for primary school teachers.
As of Thursday morning, GOP leaders are currently short on support for the $9.8 billion state budget.