Affordable Education Takes Center Stage In Florida Legislative Session
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) — On the opening day of the 60 day session, state House Speaker Will Weatherford called on his fellow legislators to pass measures that would allow qualified Florida students to pay in-state college tuition even if they are in the country illegally.
Weatherford on Tuesday told House members it was "hurting" kids to force them to pay higher tuition rates if they were brought to the United States illegally by their parents.
The Wesley Chapel Republican said that children should not be punished "for the mistakes of their parents."
In his State of the State address, Governor Rick Scott said he's recommending $80 million in the budget this year for those colleges and universities who graduate students best positioned to get a job. He added that he wants to keep a college education within reach over everyone who wants it.
"We are changing how we fund higher education, but if we want to make higher education more accessible to low and middle-income families," said Scott. "We have to make it more affordable. Last year, I vetoed a tuition increase that would have taken a total of more than $42 million from Florida families. And, this year, with your help, we want to get rid of the 15 percent annual increase and inflationary increase on tuition. Undoing these 2007 and 2009 laws is another way we can keep higher education affordable and accessible."
Legislators plan to debate everything from guns to gambling. Legislative leaders have their own proposals to expand the use of private school vouchers and to offer additional incentives to military veterans living here.
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