U.S.  Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., spoke in Lindsay Auditorium last Wednesday about state, national and international issues, focusing on education and immigration.

About 30 people attended the event, sponsored by the Social Justice LLC and the Center for Multicultural Excellence.

Polis said both states and the federal government need to prioritize education when looking at their budgets.

“It is unwise to cut funds in education- you are only selling short your own future,” he said.

He said that in response to state budget cuts in Colorado education, legislators are focusing on expanding educational models that work.

Polis commented on the effect that Obama’s new budget had on Pell Grants and student loans. He said that despite the fact that Pell Grants have been cut, he feels Democrats were able to keep them as high as possible in light of Republican opposition.  The goal now, he said, was to keep them from being cut back to the 2008 level.

Polis said the protests in Wisconsin, over proposed school budget cuts and teacher bargaining rights, need to differentiate between labor issues and the need to balance the state’s budget.

“Instead of keeping it clean, the Republicans were loading up the balance between labor and management. That’s what was making people angry,” he said.

On immigration, Polis said that there is “only so much states can do,” which leads to frustration in states that experience an influx of illegal immigrants.

In an answer to a question about the 2012 election, Polis predicted that the Republican majority in the House will be short lived.

“Democrats just need to show that they are focusing on what’s important, supporting the middle class, creating jobs, and doing what’s right,” he said.  

When asked about the lack of cuts in federal entitlement programs in Obama’s budget, Polis said revising Medicare and Social Security  are long-term issue that will be addressed in the next two to three years. But, he stressed, debate on what to do should begin now.

Polis also touched on the shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson and said he found it shocking to hear about the injury of such a good friend.

Responding to a question regarding the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate, Polis said it is worth trying for peace, which is in the best interest of the United States, as well as Israelis and Palestinians.

He supports negotiations and the leveraging of aid by the Obama administration.

Polis also reflected on his background and experiences in Congress, lamenting the long commutes each week. However, Polis shared his appreciation for  trips by members of Congress to Iraq and Afghanistan to visit troops.

Regarding his struggles as an openly gay congressman, he said it is a discouraging hurdle that his partner is not classified as a spouse. But, he offered advice to LGBT students considering running for office, including training from victoryfund.org.

“It’s just like being in any other minority,” he said, emphasizing that you will have critics, but also a group of very active supporters.