North Country Assemblyman Marc W. Butler (R-Newport) is supporting a Republican alternative to Gov. Cuomo’s free SUNY tuition, plan, which the GOP calls the “Affordable College for All Initiative (ACAI).”

Butler says the plan is designed “to make higher education more accessible to low-income and middle-income students and their families.”

Butler, who sits on the state Higher Education committee, says plan “is a more practical and effective alternative to the governor’s free-tuition plan, and does so by modernizing the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), helps those who are part-time students who must work to make ends meet, and assists those currently paying off student loans.”

Cuomo's initiative will be phased in over three years, beginning for New Yorkers making up to $100,000 annually in the fall of 2017, increasing to $110,000 in 2018, and reaching $125,000 in 2019. It apply to SUNY and CUNY schools.

“College must become more affordable for a wide variety of students and we can begin making it more accessible by modernizing TAP and helping those who are currently burdened by student loans,” Butler said in a news release. “Making these important changes will allow students to follow their dream of achieving a higher education without having to feel burdened or deterred by the costs. While it may sound attractive, the governor’s free-tuition plan falls short, and my colleagues and I believe this is the right alternative.”

Butler represents the 118th Assembly District. Its northernmost reaches cover parts of southern and central St. Lawrence County, from Fine to Norfolk.

Aspects of the Affordable College for All Initiative Cutler is highlighting include:

• Increase TAP Household Income Cap Threshold – It would increase the household income eligibility threshold from $80,000 to $125,000 over three years. The threshold has not been increased since 2000-01 and does not capture the rising cost of living;

• Increase Maximum TAP Award – It would increase the maximum TAP award from $5,165 to $6,470 over three years. This is especially beneficial to lower-income students who are eligible for the maximum TAP award. Additionally, this will alleviate the burden of SUNY schools who are currently covering the ‘TAP gap’ for students who meet the maximum TAP award, but are able to pay the remainder of tuition increases passed in 2011;

• Increase TAP Awards for All Students – The measure would increase the TAP award to every recipient by $500;

• Restore TAP for Graduate Studies – The measure would help alleviate the estimated $57,000 debt graduate students incur; and

• Income Tax Deductions for Student Loans – It would reduce taxable income by taking into account interest and principal payments on student loans.

Butler believes the higher education plan offered by the Assembly Republican Conference would assist more New York students.

“The governor claims his plan would help 940,000, but with the 15-credit requirement, it only would assist 32,000 full-time students, ignoring the many students who work full time and study part time. The Republicans’ initiative would assist the 300,000 students who already receive TAP awards. In addition, it would assist 36,000 more students would be included in the TAP program due to the expanded income threshold, 7,200 graduate students would receive TAP when it is reinstated for graduate studies, and 791,000 New Yorkers who are paying-off student loans,” according to a news release from Butler’s office.