WASHINGTON - Rutgers University students lobbying in Washington, D.C. yesterday focused their effort on making last year’s Pell Grant funding increase go on beyond 2012, when the raise is slated to expire. They also hoped to secure additional funding for the Federal Work-Study Program, which has not seen an increase in federal funding since 2000.

Some legislators openly embraced their efforts. Others warned them the federal deficit was too high for monetary contributions to higher education. The student advocates also said they learned lobbying techniques they could use in the future.

One of the lawmakers who said he was more worried about the federal budget than higher education was Rep. Scott Garrett, R-5th. He said although other legislators might say the opposite, he is being frank: The federal budget is not looking too good. Don’t put on the rose-colored glasses.

“They might say, ‘Oh yeah, everything’s peachy-keen in Washington,’ but it just isn’t that way,” he said. “It’s not the reality.”

He said he could not make any promises because of the economy. The dollar is growing weak, he said, and he just read an article stating oil is now $112 a barrel. He suggested the students and staff look toward Trenton and lobbying in-state rather than on a federal level.

“It seemed that he didn’t want to put anything into something unless it outweighed the cost benefits of it,” said Pharmacy Council Secretary Robert Erazo, an Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy first-year student.

Other legislators, such as Rep. Albio Sires, D-13th, told them they need not come looking for support. They already have his support.

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’m in your corner,” Sires said. “I keep pushing and pushing and pushing.”