Re: Question 3 - Student Fees

I would like to make a quick comment on the statement by Assemblyman Runner regarding student fees and student loans.

A recent editorial in my local paper suggested that we should increase college fees just to show that everyone is contributing in our state's time of fiscal need.  However, as Assemblyman Runner points out, students are already contributing to their education through increased borrowing.

I was shocked to find out that each year California students accumulate more than $3 billion in federal student loan debt to attend college.  This borrowing helps students pay for fees as well as the outrageous housing costs, books, transportation and other expenses that the state does not subsidize.

This student contribution is more than the entire state General Fund commitment to community colleges and more than three times what the state General Fund provides for all of the state financial aid programs combined!

Fees are the one cost of education that the state has direct control over.  And in light of all the other rising costs that students face, I believe it would be unwise for the state to raise fees one bit.