GUEST COMMENTARY

As the senator representing WSU-Pullman, tuition costs have always been of particular interest to me. The Biden administration’s controversial plan to “forgive” hundreds of billions of dollars in student-loan debt has brought new attention to the rise in college tuition, and that had me reflecting on debates we’ve had in the Legislature regarding the cost of higher education.

In 2007 I led a successful effort to cap annual tuition increases at our state-run colleges and universities. Democrats undid the cap just two years later, and soon the annual tuition increases were in double digits.

In 2013, when our Republican-majority bipartisan coalition began leading the state Senate, we made controlling tuition a priority. Former Sen. Michael Baumgartner (now Spokane County treasurer) got the ball rolling by proposing a tuition cut. It didn’t succeed, but the discussion led to a different breakthrough – a two-year freeze on tuition. In 2015, when I was Senate majority leader, we surpassed that by successfully promoting the College Affordability Program, which cut tuition for the first time in state history and then put controls on its ability to grow. I was proud to co-sponsor that historic legislation.

A former Eastern Washington University president, Dr. Rodolfo Arevalo, used to say the best form of financial aid is low tuition, as it puts a college degree within the reach of more students. Also, lower tuition translates to less student debt, as I pointed out in the August 2017 edition of my Legislative Commentary:

“It shouldn’t be a surprise that 2016 graduates from Washington colleges rank toward the bottom of the national scale when it comes to average student-loan debt. This is according to a survey by a company that offers student-loan refinancing, as reported in the Seattle Times recently:

Washington’s lower student debt makes sense, given that, in 2015, state lawmakers cut the cost of going to school for in-state students studying at public universities. Tuition dropped 5 percent in 2015, and as much as 20 percent, depending on the school, in 2016.

“I rank the tuition freeze/cut of 2013-17 near the top of the list of good things that have occurred since our Republican-led coalition took charge of the Senate. College students and their families have had no better friend in Olympia since 2013.”

Getting back to the Biden administration’s “forgiveness” of a portion of student loans – it does nothing to put a college degree within reach of more students, going forward. Also, I don’t buy for one second the claim that the so-called “inflation reduction act” will save enough money to cover the cost of this bailout. Finally, this sets a terrible precedent. We don’t need future students to be counting on the government to help erase part of any debt they incur.

Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-9