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Assemblyman Butler calling on fellow state representatives to pass laws to reduce education costs

Posted 5/17/16

North Country Assemblyman Marc C. Butler is calling on his fellow state representatives to pass laws that will reduce education costs. He also offered his praise to Senate Democrats who he says have …

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Assemblyman Butler calling on fellow state representatives to pass laws to reduce education costs

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North Country Assemblyman Marc C. Butler is calling on his fellow state representatives to pass laws that will reduce education costs.

He also offered his praise to Senate Democrats who he says have joined in Assembly Republicans in pushing for a reductions in the cost of attending college.

Butler’s 118th Assembly District includes parts of southern and central St. Lawrence County, from Norfolk down to Fine.

“I’m pleased to see the Senate Democrats agree with my Assembly Republican colleagues and me, as we have been pushing for higher education cost relief measures for middle-class families. I support making the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) available for more students and a number of other measures meant to make college more affordable," he said. "New York’s middle-class families are working incredibly hard to give their children a better future with a college education, but the costs are putting this dream just out of reach for many. I encourage the Assembly Majority to take up these matters and bring to the floor our existing legislation that would address these problems now.”

Butler says Assembly Republicans have already introduced several bills aimed at reducing the economic burden of higher education and cited the following examples:

• Establish a “Learning for Work” Program – A.8695: The bill would create the “Learning for Work” program in high schools throughout the state, which would help accelerate career readiness by offering apprenticeships and enhanced professional degrees. The bill would create a $1,500 tax credit per apprentice to benefit businesses participating in the program.

• Increase College Loan Transparency – A. 8681: The bill would require colleges and universities to disclose certain financial statistics to students.

• Create Student Loan Payment Tax Deduction – A. 8675: The measure would allow deductions for up to $4,000 for single filers, $6,000 for head-of-household filers, and $8,000 for married filers paying back college loans.

• Endow the Community College Merit and Mobility Scholarship Program – A.8691: Provides $1,000 per year scholarships to students in New York’s top ten percent of high school graduates who then attend a state community college.

• Increasing the household income cap on TAP eligibility – A.3049

• Restoring graduate program TAP funding – A.3051