Spring Break
Fees spark outcry
John Hornberg
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: News
Even though the higher education committee passed the bill, Vaeth said the bill is likely to have a rough time once it reaches the Assembly floor.
"The difficulty with any legislation this year is the budget," he said, adding that the group is working to make a case for the state's investment in higher education.
Alumba said 60 percent of the revenue generated by the proposed tax would go back into California's two public university systems, while the rest would go into California's other educational institutions.
"Our entire public educational system will be better off if this bill passes," Alumba said. "It would benefit everyone."
In addition to lobbying the state Legislature, the group is petitioning to qualify the same bill for the ballot in November. The petition process began mid-January, Vaeth said, with the deadline set for the third week of April.
The assembly bill and the proposed ballot initiative are the same thing, Alumba said.
"We want to keep it safe," she said. "We just need the support in just getting our name out there and making sure this passes."
Targets for the number of signatures were set for each campus, Alumba said, with SJSU's set at 10,000.
The biggest obstacle facing the tuition initiative isn't the number of signatures collected, he added, but how many will be valid. Only 65 to 70 percent of people who sign the petitions for a ballot initiative are valid, Vaeth said, because people not registered to vote sign the petition, or individuals sign the petition in the wrong county.
"The difficulty with any legislation this year is the budget," he said, adding that the group is working to make a case for the state's investment in higher education.
Alumba said 60 percent of the revenue generated by the proposed tax would go back into California's two public university systems, while the rest would go into California's other educational institutions.
"Our entire public educational system will be better off if this bill passes," Alumba said. "It would benefit everyone."
In addition to lobbying the state Legislature, the group is petitioning to qualify the same bill for the ballot in November. The petition process began mid-January, Vaeth said, with the deadline set for the third week of April.
The assembly bill and the proposed ballot initiative are the same thing, Alumba said.
"We want to keep it safe," she said. "We just need the support in just getting our name out there and making sure this passes."
Targets for the number of signatures were set for each campus, Alumba said, with SJSU's set at 10,000.
The biggest obstacle facing the tuition initiative isn't the number of signatures collected, he added, but how many will be valid. Only 65 to 70 percent of people who sign the petitions for a ballot initiative are valid, Vaeth said, because people not registered to vote sign the petition, or individuals sign the petition in the wrong county.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Artur
posted 4/02/08 @ 2:04 PM PST
Although I feel the great importance of spreading higher education in this country and allowing fair access to it, I don't think this bill will have a chance because there has to be a way to make revenue. (Continued…)
Post a Comment