Some California lawmakers want to make higher education free for in-state college students by taxing the state's wealthiest people. This is to address the constantly increasing costs of attending college.
According to The Sacramento Bee, the bill introduced by Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman called Assembly Bill 1356, will be adding a 1 percent tax on annual California household incomes of not less than $1 million. This money will then be placed in a financial aid fund. The Stockton Democrat said that the tax will be able to provide an estimated amount of $2.2 billion each year, which is going to be enough to cover tuition fees for public schools for the residents.
Eggman said that she looks at it as an investment in the state's overall future, according to US News. She also added that it will be a huge help for middle-class families to send their children to college.
The AB 1356 will be covering tuition and fees for all the resident students, regardless of the family income. It also comes on the heels of another proposal sent separately last week which also aims to aidcollege costs by covering the non-tuition related expenses. Eggman believes her bill complements this proposal too.
In order for this bill to be approved, one-thirds vote in the legislature will be required because an added tax is being discussed and may be potentially implemented.
However, Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, said that college students should make a contribution to make their education more affordable, and that the new tax might just give these wealthy families to move out of California.
Some Republican lawmakers also do not agree with this approach because there is no guarantee that the students will be graduating in four years if they are given something for free.
