Public College Lobbying and Institutional Appropriations

165 Pages·2017·2.59 MB·English

Seton Hall University
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Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses
Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses
(ETDs)
Fall 12-21-2016
Public College Lobbying and Institutional
Appropriations: The Role of Lobbying in State
Higher Education Budgets
Andrew Brackett
[email protected]
Follow this and additional works at:https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations
Part of theHigher Education Commons
Recommended Citation
Brackett, Andrew, "Public College Lobbying and Institutional Appropriations: The Role of Lobbying in State Higher Education
Budgets" (2016).Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs). 2230.
https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations/2230
PUBLIC COLLEGE LOBBYING AND INSTITUTIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:
THE ROLE OF LOBBYING IN STATE HIGHER EDUCATION BUDGETS

BY
ANDREW BRACKETT

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Department of Education Leadership, Management and Policy
Seton Hall University
December 2016
© 2016 Andrew Brackett

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Abstract

The higher education literature has developed a growing number of frameworks identifying the
economic, demographic, and political influences on state support for public colleges and universities.
Among the important political factors that affect state support, the role of lobbying has been
highlighted by many authors as an important factor for future study, especially in light of the growing
state lobbying forces present in legislatures across the country. Although some studies have
incorporated aggregate measures of lobbying in comparative state support studies, the power of
institutional lobbying as it relates to appropriations and other forms of support remains understudied in
the literature.
This study examined institution-level data for 534 public 2- and 4-year colleges in 15 states
over a period of 10 years, with the goal of examining institutions working under similar lobbying
disclosure laws. A unique lobbying expenditure dataset was collected from state government websites,
and a multilevel model using panel data was employed to examine the effects of institutional lobbying
on state support measures.
The results of analysis reveal that institutional lobbying has increased over 80% in real terms
over the 10-year dataset. Significant differences also exist in lobbying expenditures by institutional
type, with research universities spending an average of 10 times more than community colleges. No
statistically significant relationship between an institution’s lobbying expenditures and measures of
state support were found, suggesting future scholars should continue to examine lobbying from
different perspectives and consider expenditure data as a new source for the creation of institutional
and state measures.
iii

Acknowledgements

I would like to express the deepest appreciation to my committee chair Dr. Rong Chen, whose
patience and encouragement allowed me to finish my work even through considerable hardship and
challenges related to work and family. Over the course of nearly 7 years in the Ph.D. program, Dr.
Chen has supported me in a number of professional and research endeavors, which have shaped my
understanding of the field and profession. I would also like to thank my committee members, Dr.
Robert Kelchen and Dr. William Long, whose feedback and encouragement kept me on track over the
course of many revisions on the road to reaching my goal.

I also would like to thank my parents, Karen and Peter, who have provided me with every type
of support since I shared with them my intention to embark on graduate education. Without their love
and support, I would have never been able to start, never mind finish, my work as a student. Last, but
most importantly, I would like to thank my wife Shannon. My greatest supporter and partner for life,
Shannon has shown me the most patience and kindness.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT ……………………………………………………………………………………...……ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……………………………………………………………………….….iii

LIST OF TABLES …………………………………………………………………………………..vi

LIST OF FIGURES ………………………………………………………………………………….vii

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………………………1
Higher Education Lobbying as a Determinant of State Budgets ……………………5
Current Literature on Higher Education Lobbying ……………………………………8
Statement of Problem …………………………………………………………………..10
Purpose of Study …………………………………………………………………..12
Research Questions …………………………………………………………………..13
Research Methodology …………………………………………………………..14
Significance of Study …………………………………………………………………..16
Definition of Terms …………………………………………………………………..17
Organization of Study …………………………………………………………………..18

CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW …………………………………………………………………..20
The History of Higher Education Funding …………………………………………..20
Defining Interest Groups and Lobbying …………………………………………..23
Lobbying Influence …………………………………………………………………..25
Lobbying and State Budget Decision Theory …………………………………..27
Modeling Higher Education Support …………………………………………………..30
This Study’s Model …………………………………………………………………..56

CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH DESIGN …………………………………………………………………..59
Research Methods …………………………………………………………………..59
Research Questions …………………………………………………………………..60
Data Collection and Operationalization …………………………………………..61
Study Dataset …………………………………………………………………..78
Analytic Method …………………………………………………………………..84
Summary and Expectations …………………………………………………………..86

CHAPTER 4
RESULTS …………………………………………………………………………………..90
Descriptive Statistics …………………………………………………………………..90
Research Question One …………………………………………………………..94
Research Question Two …………………………………………………………101
Research Question Three …………………………………………………………110
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CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSION ……………………………………………………………………..…..117
Contribution …………………………………………………………………………119
Recommendations for Future Research …………………………………………122
Final Thoughts …………………………………………………………………126

REFERENCES …………………………………………………………………………………127

APPENDIX A LIST OF VARIABLES ………………………………………………....142

APPENDIX B LOBBYING LAW DESCRIPTIONS …………………………………146

APPENDIX C LOBBYING DISCLOSURE LAW MINIMUMS AND EXEMPTIONS …153

APPENDIX D LOBBYING DATABASE LOCATIONS …………………………………155
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LIST OF TABLES

Table

3-1. Average Lobbying Expenditure Rank over 10-year dataset (for selected states) …………..64

3-2. Average Expenditure per Institution (for selected states) …………………………………..66

3-3. State Inclusion Guidelines …………………………………………………………………..80

3-4. Comparison of National and Sample Means for Dataset including all 15 states
(2003-04 only) …………………………………………………………………………..83

4-1. Descriptive Statistics including all 15 States (Standard Deviations in Parenthesis) …………..91

4-2. Lobbying Expenditures by Institutional Level over Dataset …………………………………..96

4-3. Institutional Frequency of Lobbying over Dataset …………………………………………..97

4.4. Lobbying Expenditure Growth per Institution …………………………………………100

4-5. T-test for Lobbying Expenditures across State Governance Structure …………………100

4-6. Final Model – Dependent Variable (Log Appropriations per FTE) …………………………103

4-7. Final Model – Dependent Variable (Appropriations, One-Year Percentage Change) …106

4-8. Correlation between Lobbying and Dependent Variables …………………………………109

4-9. Final Model – Dependent Variable (Log Total State Support per FTE) …………………111

4-10. Final Model – Dependent Variable (Total Support Change, One-Year
Percentage Change) …………………………………………………………………………114
vii

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure

1-1. Inflation Adjusted Appropriations per FTE to Public Institutions in all 50 States ……………1

2-1. Study Framework for State Higher Education Budget Decisions …………………………..57

4-1. Appropriation per FTE over Dataset (15 states) …………………………………………..92

4-2. Yearly Lobbying Expenditures per Institutional Level Grouped by State
(10-year average) …………………………………………………………………………..95

4-3. Total Lobbying Expenditures across Dataset …………………………………………………..97

4-4. Average Institutional Expenditure across Dataset …………………………………………..98

4-5. Number of Lobbying Institutions Reporting Expenditures …………………………………..99