Brown Tours Ohio Colleges, Calls for Increased Access to Higher Education

DeWine voted to raise tuition costs, increase student debt

 

DAYTON, OH -- U.S. Representative Sherrod Brown (D-OH) continued his four-day tour of colleges and universities across Ohio today by holding events with students in Columbus, Bowling Green and Toledo to discuss how to lower tuition costs and to increase access to higher education for all Ohioans.  By voting to cut higher education funding and against funding for student loans and college assistance programs, incumbent Republican Senator Mike DeWine made college less affordable and accessible for Ohioans.

"Skyrocketing tuition rates are driving talented students from Ohio and saddling middle class families with debt," said Representative Brown.  "When it comes to paying for higher education, Senator DeWine has left students behind.  We must provide students with every opportunity and incentive to succeed here in Ohio, so that they will stay and reinvest in the state."

Tuition costs at four-year public universities in Ohio have more than doubled since 2000, and the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education recently gave Ohio an "F" for college affordability.  Tuition at Ohio public universities is well above the national average, but the percentage of Ohioans with college degrees is below that average.  DeWine opposed more than $11 billion for higher education and voted against funding for Pell Grants, student loans, work study, technology training, and college assistance programs. 

"Senator DeWine and Congressional Republicans have left Ohio with 200,000 fewer manufacturing jobs and a higher cost of living," stated Brown.  "Higher education provides Ohioans with the hope of a better future, but record tuition costs are limiting access for middle class families.  Providing all Ohioans with access to affordable higher education will create jobs, promote innovation, and expand Ohio's economy.  The classroom is the key to our future."

While DeWine voted to eliminate the college tuition deduction that benefitted more than 134,000 Ohio students, Brown voted for a tuition tax credit and proposed expanding that credit to $3,000.  Brown co-sponsored legislation to increase the maximum Pell Grant to $7,000 and to require states to maintain higher education funding, and he supported a cut that would decrease student loan interest rates by half.

Brown has first-hand classroom experience.  He obtained a degree in education from Ohio State, and taught in the university system at its Mansfield campus.  His candidacy for the Senate is endorsed by the Ohio Federation of Teachers and the Ohio Education Association. 

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10/09/2006 / Permalink / (all tags)