Spring 2012
Committee:
Governmental Relations
Whereas, California has long promised affordable higher education for students willing to work hard, a promise that helped spur innovation,
prosperity, job growth and socio-economic mobility for decades, yet this promise is in jeopardy because of enormous fee increases and budget cuts that have seen investment in California Community Colleges cut by more than$769 million over the last 3 years as fees have increased 130% since 2006;
Whereas, Financial aid programs including the Board of Governors Fee Waiver have helped many families to off-set the rise in fees, yet middle class families who make too much to qualify for financial aid programs but too little to afford the higher fee levels, are forced to rely on staggering levels of student loans, take on less courses or give up on the dream higher education;
Whereas, While California's investment in community colleges decreased and fees increased, corporate tax law changes in 2009 provided $1 billion in annual tax breaks to out-of-state corporations to the disadvantage of California businesses; and
Whereas, John Pérez, Speaker of the Assembly, has introduced the Middle Class Scholarship Act – revenue neutral legislation that closes the $1 billion tax benefit provided to out-of-state corporations, while slashing tuition at the University of California and California State University by two-thirds for families making less than $150,000 a year and provide $150 million to California Community Colleges to improve affordability;
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges strongly support the Middle Class Scholarship Act and any future legislation
that wishes to close $1 billion tax benefit provided to our-of-state corporations to make higher education more affordable;
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges strongly urges all regions and local associated student organizations to pass similar resolutions in support of the Middle Class Scholarship Act; and
Resolved That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges strongly urges all students to advocate on behalf of the Middle Class Scholarship Act, including but not limited to, attendance at legislative hearings.
prosperity, job growth and socio-economic mobility for decades, yet this promise is in jeopardy because of enormous fee increases and budget cuts that have seen investment in California Community Colleges cut by more than$769 million over the last 3 years as fees have increased 130% since 2006;
Whereas, Financial aid programs including the Board of Governors Fee Waiver have helped many families to off-set the rise in fees, yet middle class families who make too much to qualify for financial aid programs but too little to afford the higher fee levels, are forced to rely on staggering levels of student loans, take on less courses or give up on the dream higher education;
Whereas, While California's investment in community colleges decreased and fees increased, corporate tax law changes in 2009 provided $1 billion in annual tax breaks to out-of-state corporations to the disadvantage of California businesses; and
Whereas, John Pérez, Speaker of the Assembly, has introduced the Middle Class Scholarship Act – revenue neutral legislation that closes the $1 billion tax benefit provided to out-of-state corporations, while slashing tuition at the University of California and California State University by two-thirds for families making less than $150,000 a year and provide $150 million to California Community Colleges to improve affordability;
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges strongly support the Middle Class Scholarship Act and any future legislation
that wishes to close $1 billion tax benefit provided to our-of-state corporations to make higher education more affordable;
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges strongly urges all regions and local associated student organizations to pass similar resolutions in support of the Middle Class Scholarship Act; and
Resolved That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges strongly urges all students to advocate on behalf of the Middle Class Scholarship Act, including but not limited to, attendance at legislative hearings.