Free College Tuition Plan Presented In Lansing
LANSING (WWJ) - Every high school grad in Michigan would get free college tuition under a plan that was introduced in Lansing on Wednesday.
The "Michigan 20-20 plan," which is co-sponsor Senator Gretchen Whitmer, would give every high school graduate an annual grant for their equal to the state's median tuition level, which currently is about $9,500.
The Democrat from East Lansing quoted Microsoft founder Bill Gates to make her point.
"It isn't tax rates that determine where a business will build and grow, it's where the greatest concentration of talent, of an education workforce is located," she said.
Whitmer called on her fellow senators to "take a bold step" and pass the free tuition bills.
"I hope that you agree with me ... We don't want our legacy to be the legislature that turned its back on education and condemed our people to third-world standards of living," she said.
The Senate Finance Committee heard from several supporters, including student Raleigh VanFauson. a freshman at Michigan State University.
"Coming from a single-parent home, with my mom supporting me at MSU and my older brother at Western, paying for college has been a difficult task," said VanFauson. "Let me be that last class that has to worry about paying for college and having debt."
"Michigan 20-20" would be funded by taxing online retail purchases and putting a term limit on corporate tax cuts.
