Before the start of the 2007 legislative session, House Republicans introduced their higher education proposal. We strongly believe that the best form of financial aid is affordable tuition. Our plan to freeze tuition at state colleges and universities is gaining ground this legislative session.
More than 400 students rallied on the steps of the State Capitol for affordable tuition including a tuition freeze. The freeze first offered by House Republicans now has the support of two integral DFL legislators -- Rep. Tom Rukavina, chair of the Minnesota House Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee, and Sen. David Tomassoni, a member of the Higher Education Budget and Policy Division in the Minnesota Senate.
Support for the tuition freeze is good news for college students, who are incurring large debts while they gain the education and experience needed to succeed in a 21st century global economy.
Throughout the campaign last fall, we heard that the rising cost of tuition was out of control. The House DFL promised to reduce the tuition increase of the past four years and tackle student debt. While we have yet to see a comprehensive proposal from the DFL on their plan, we welcome their support for the tuition freeze.
