Current:Home > Invest4 Pennsylvania universities closer to getting millions after House OKs bill on state subsidies-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
4 Pennsylvania universities closer to getting millions after House OKs bill on state subsidies
View Date:2024-12-23 22:31:00
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Four of Pennsylvania’s top universities edged closer to receiving overdue state subsidies when the state House of Representatives approved their annual state subsidies on Tuesday, setting a condition that the schools freeze tuition next year.
The appropriation of about $643 million passed the House 145-57 and was sent to the state Senate, which is due back in session Nov. 13.
Funding for Penn State, Temple and Lincoln universities and the University of Pittsburgh has been snarled in the Legislature for months over a partisan dispute involving fetal tissue research and public disclosure of school records.
Republicans have repeatedly stopped the appropriation from receiving the required supermajority to get it out of the Democratic-majority House. Critics chafed at the proposed 7% increase in light of rising tuition costs and said the universities should be held to higher transparency standards.
On Monday, the House approved a bill that would expand what the universities must disclose about their finances and budget under the Right-to-Know Law, addressing one of the Republicans’ concerns. The universities say they support the transparency changes.
A proposal to require the universities to freeze tuition for the 2024-25 academic year was a late addition to the bill, particularly lauded by Republicans.
“The days of blank checks to these universities must come to an end, and passing this legislation with a tuition freeze in it is good policy for our students and their families,” said Republican Leader Rep. Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County.
Democrats, who tried to circumvent the necessary two-thirds vote for the state-related schools earlier this month, called the latest vote “option C.”
“We’re able to deliver for the universities, but we’re able to deliver for the students,” said Majority Leader Rep. Matt Bradford, of Montgomery County.
Pennsylvania ranks near the bottom in just about every measure for college affordability. Tuition rates are comparatively high, students tend to leave encumbered with more debt and the state provides a smaller subsidy for higher education.
Advocates say a lack of state aid is a big reason for Pennsylvania’s higher tuition rates.
“We can’t tell our young people that they should go to institutions of higher education, particularly our institutions here in Pennsylvania, and then make it unattainable because it’s unaffordable,” said Rep. Jordan Harris, D-Philadelphia.
Last week, the universities had sent a joint letter to leadership urging them to pass the funding, saying they were feeling strained without the money that helps pay in-state tuition. They said they had “done our very best” to address concerns about tuition increases, transparency measures and accountability.
“We hope these actions demonstrate our desire to be good partners with the Commonwealth,” they wrote.
veryGood! (9)
Related
- Early Week 11 fantasy football rankings: 30 risers and fallers
- Georgia tops preseason USA Today Coaches Poll; Ohio State picked second
- USWNT roster, schedule for Paris Olympics: What to know about team headed into semifinals
- Zac Efron hospitalized after swimming accident in Ibiza, reports say
- Gun groups sue to overturn Maine’s new three-day waiting period to buy firearms
- Extreme Heat Is Making Schools Hotter—and Learning Harder
- One church, two astronauts. How a Texas congregation is supporting its members on the space station
- Liz Taylor speaks from beyond the grave in 'Lost Tapes' documentary
- Tua Tagovailoa playing with confidence as Miami Dolphins hope MNF win can spark run
- Ben Affleck Debuts Hair Transformation Amid Jennifer Lopez Breakup Rumors
Ranking
- Mississippi woman pleads guilty to stealing Social Security funds
- Man charged with sending son to kill rapper PnB Rock testifies, says ‘I had nothing to do with it’
- Keep your cool: Experts on how to stay safe, avoid sunburns in record-high temps
- Man gets life sentence for killing his 3 young sons at their Ohio home
- More human remains from Philadelphia’s 1985 MOVE bombing have been found at a museum
- Christina Hall Takes a Much Needed Girls Trip Amid Josh Hall Divorce
- Japan’s Nikkei 225 index plunges 12.4% as world markets tremble over risks to the US economy
- U.S. takes silver in first ever team skeet shooting event at Olympics
Recommendation
-
Gold is suddenly not so glittery after Trump’s White House victory
-
Olympics pin featuring Snoop Dogg is a hot item in Paris
-
Debby downgraded to tropical storm after landfall along Florida coast: Live updates
-
Alma Cooper, Miss Michigan, Wins Miss USA 2024
-
Tesla Cybertruck modifications upgrade EV to a sci-fi police vehicle
-
Taylor Swift didn't 'give a warning sign' for this acoustic set song in Warsaw
-
2024 Olympics: Italy's Alice D’Amato Wins Gold After Simone Biles, Suni Lee Stumble in Balance Beam Final
-
Olympic sport climbers face vexing boulders as competition gets underway at Paris Games