The New Deal for a New Millennium for Higher Education called for $70 billion from Congress' $700 billion bailout plan Monday at the Capitol.
"There is no better way to get out of this economic situation than to invest in our children," Assemblyman Anthony Portantino said to the state Assembly.
The money would give 2 million students $35,000 each for college, said Portantino, chairman of the Assembly Higher Education Committee.
The $70 billion would go toward rebuilding access for students to the nation's public universities by establishing college-going grants similar to the World War II-era GI Bill, according to the resolution's official text. Student loan debt forgiveness for all students who take jobs in public service would also be initiated.
"For every $1 put toward education, we give $5 back," Portantino said. "It worked in 1945 and it can work now."
Lillian Taiz, president of the California Faculty Association and history professor at Cal State L.A., thinks investing in students will help the economy, she said.
"It has been really critical to the state's economy," Taiz said. "Students earn more and pay more taxes than those who do not have a college degree."
About 10,000 qualified students will be turned down by the California State University system because of budget cuts, she said.
Chico State will have to deny almost 300 qualified undergraduate students because of the cuts, said Allan Bee, director of admissions.
The resolution was officially introduced immediately after the 2009-2010 legislative session began 1 p.m. Monday, according to a press release from supporters of the deal.
"The CSU is threatening to cap student enrollment, an action no California public university has ever taken," a press release stated.
Investing in education will help the economy through taxes and will result in less spending on health care and social services, said Assemblywoman-elect Joan Buchanan, supporter of the resolution. Senior Jess Graves, a math major, wants to teach high school after college and thinks education has to be a priority, she said.
"All teachers have to go to college to get their credentials," Graves said. "If less people go to college, that means less teachers and an even worse problem for schools."
Ben Burg can be reached at bburg@theorion.com
Be the first to comment on this article!