Students from low-income families might see some tuition relief if the state adopts an amendment proposed by local lawmakers at the Red Gym Monday.
On a chilly May day appropriate for talk of a \tuition freeze,"" Madison Democratic Reps. Spencer Black, Mark Pocan and Joe Parisi outlined their plan to provide approximately $17 million in financial aid designated for UW System students from within the state whose family income is below the state's $46,000 average. The money would be used to cancel out these students' increases in tuition for the next two years.
""Rising tuition threatens to price students from moderate-income households out of a college education,"" Black said. ""One of the great things that we've had in Wisconsin is that if you have the ambition and the talent and you're willing to work hard, you will not be stopped from getting a higher education because of your family's economic circumstances.""
With Republicans solidly in control of the Legislature, however, most Democratic initiatives this session have found little support. Pocan is hopeful that by attempting to pass this proposal via direct amendment onto the state budget may yield different results than if this proposal was introduced in the Assembly. The Joint Finance Committee is currently putting together the 2005-'07 budget.
""I'm hoping that we can convince the members of [the JFC] ... the minimum we can do is provide a small amount to make sure that all students can have access to get a quality education,"" Pocan said.
The legislators explained that this is not a request for an additional $17 million in state spending-any plans to increase spending from both Democrats and Republicans have been met critically as the state works to climb its way out of a projected $1.6 billion deficit-but rather an adjustment in some of the available General Purpose Revenue funds.
Parisi pointed out that all three representatives benefited from receiving a UW-Madison education.
""The reasons that we are able to be here today as graduates is because generations have come before us and made the necessary investments,"" Parisi said. ""Your generation should not be the first generation of Americans to have less opportunity than the generation that came before you.""
The JFC must approve the UW System budget by the end of May.
