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State Representative Joe Atkins
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4192
For more information contact: Chris Shields 651-296-8873
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ATKINS APPOINTED TO HIGHER ED CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
ST. PAUL - Fresh off a week of working to pass House budget bills, State Representative Joe Atkins of Inver Grove Heights was appointed to the House/Senate Higher Education Conference Committee. The panel will iron out differences between the House and Senate bills that fund the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU).
"Double digit tuition increases are going to be a thing of the past," said Atkins, who serves on the House Higher Education Committee. "No matter what the final outcome is, there's broad agreement on getting tuition under control."
The House bill keeps tuition increases for the U of M and MnSCU at less than inflation and freezes tuition at MnSCU campuses, like Inver Hills Community College, in 2009. Atkins said high tuition poses a threat to Minnesota's economy.
"If we let tuition continue to go up like it has in past years, Minnesota's economy will suffer," added Atkins. "Fewer people will get the skills they need to compete, while those who do graduate will be saddled with mountains of debt."
After the conference committee reaches a final compromise, both the House and Senate must vote again before sending the legislation to the Governor's desk.
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