Magna Carta News
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Bill Filed to Help College Students Save on Housing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Mike Reynolds
Capitol: (405) 557-7337
Oklahoma City: (405) 691-1650
Bill Filed to Help College Students Save on Housing
OKLAHOMA CITY (January 2, 2007) - Because the cost of college is
skyrocketing and many families struggle to pay the bills, state Rep.
Mike Reynolds has filed legislation to help reduce housing expenses.
Under a bill re-filed by Reynolds this year (House Bill 1012),
no student at an Oklahoma college will be required to live on campus
when they can commute from home.
"Given the outrageous tuition increases imposed in recent years
and the enormous amount of state funding provided our colleges, there's
no reason schools should force students to pay extra housing expenses
when a student can simply live at home and commute," said Reynolds,
R-Oklahoma City. "The colleges will do fine making do with 'just' $1.7
billion dollars they now get from the state, tuition and fees.
"Unfortunately, the committee did not act on this bill last
year, so I intend to try again."
Some state colleges and universities require students to live on
campus. For example, the University of Oklahoma requires freshman
students younger than 20 to live on campus.
In the past, local families were often able to obtain exemptions so a
student could live at home, but colleges have slashed back on exemptions
in an effort to milk more money out of working families, Reynolds noted.
"College already costs too much for many families to send their
children," Reynolds said. "There's no reason to force them to pay for
overpriced on-campus housing when affordable alternatives are
available."
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Mike Reynolds
Capitol: (405) 557-7337
Oklahoma City: (405) 691-1650
Bill Filed to Help College Students Save on Housing
OKLAHOMA CITY (January 2, 2007) - Because the cost of college is
skyrocketing and many families struggle to pay the bills, state Rep.
Mike Reynolds has filed legislation to help reduce housing expenses.
Under a bill re-filed by Reynolds this year (House Bill 1012),
no student at an Oklahoma college will be required to live on campus
when they can commute from home.
"Given the outrageous tuition increases imposed in recent years
and the enormous amount of state funding provided our colleges, there's
no reason schools should force students to pay extra housing expenses
when a student can simply live at home and commute," said Reynolds,
R-Oklahoma City. "The colleges will do fine making do with 'just' $1.7
billion dollars they now get from the state, tuition and fees.
"Unfortunately, the committee did not act on this bill last
year, so I intend to try again."
Some state colleges and universities require students to live on
campus. For example, the University of Oklahoma requires freshman
students younger than 20 to live on campus.
In the past, local families were often able to obtain exemptions so a
student could live at home, but colleges have slashed back on exemptions
in an effort to milk more money out of working families, Reynolds noted.
"College already costs too much for many families to send their
children," Reynolds said. "There's no reason to force them to pay for
overpriced on-campus housing when affordable alternatives are
available."
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