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State Representative Gene Pelowski Jr.
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8637
For more information contact: Chris Shields 651-296-8873
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PELOWSKI SAYS HIGHER EDUCATION BILL DELIVERS TUITION RELIEF, CUTS WASTE
ST. PAUL - State Representative Gene Pelowski praised the Minnesota House for passing a comprehensive bill 95 to 37 that brings long-overdue tuition relief to Minnesota students.
"The era of double digit tuition increases in Minnesota is over," said Pelowski, a member of the House Education Committee. "We finally have a higher ed bill that truly focuses on student needs."
The bill originally called for tuition increases lower than the rate of inflation. However, Pelowski successfully helped lead a bipartisan effort with House Minority Leader Marty Seifert to freeze tuition at MnSCU schools in 2009 by cutting the $40 million MNSCU budget by $6 million
"By budget and employees, the MnSCU central office is the third largest campus, but doesn't have a single student," added Pelowski. "When student tuition was going up by double digits and students were being laden with record debt the MnSCU central office was growing. Their budget proposal of $70 million for technology would have given the office 70 new employees."
Pelowski stressed that MnSCU's number one priority needs to be education, not bureaucracy.
"Before there was a MnSCU central office there was a Winona Teachers College founded in 1858. When the central office collapses under its own bureaucratic weight there will be a Winona State University."
Along with keeping tuition increases at Minnesota's state colleges and universities under the rate of inflation and freezing it next year, the bill includes the following important components:
· $24 million in scholarship programs and reduced tuition for low and middle-income U of M students.
· $60 million in financial aid, including $12 million in new money.
· Post-secondary assistance to Minnesota veterans.
· Pilot projects to explore the potential for textbook rental and other cost-saving options.
· Expanded opportunities for rural high school students by funding the Governor's Achieve II initiative.
The Legislation now heads to a conference committee with the Senate.
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News Items
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: MINNESOTA STATUTE 12A IMPROVES STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PROCESS AND DISASTER RELIEF PACKAGE - (Posted: 2012-08-24 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI AND SEN. JEREMY MILLER SUPPORT TWO-BRIDGE PROPOSAL - (Posted: 2012-08-23 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PACKAGE SHOULD FOLLOW PROCESS OUTLINED IN 12A AND INCLUDE PUBLIC INPUT - (Posted: 2012-08-16 00:00:00)
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