Politics & Government
Making Higher Education More Accessible
Assembly Republicans release plan to provide needed financial assistance to New York students..
Assemblyman Chad A. Lupinacci (R,C,I,Ref.—South Huntington) joined Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb in hosting a press conference as they offered a substitute to Governor Cuomo’s “free-tuition” plan. Assemblyman Lupinacci’s plan would modify New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) that provides financial assistance in the form of grants to college students throughout New York.
The Assembly Republican conference’s plan includes a revamp of TAP that would increase the tuition-assistance minimum and expand the number of those eligible. The proposal would effectively eliminate the ‘TAP-gap,’ or the difference between the highest TAP award and the cost of yearly SUNY tuition. It would also expand TAP grants to New York students pursuing a graduate degree.
“As a college professor, I’ve seen firsthand how important TAP is for thousands of New York’s students. An increase in funding would offer students and their families’ much-needed relief from the incredible burden of college costs,” said Lupinacci. “Passing this legislation would modernize an extremely outdated financial aid framework, while providing broad assistance to those struggling to pay off their student loan debts.
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“While Governor Cuomo’s plan for ‘free college’ is well intentioned, it overstates the number of individuals who would benefit from this proposal, while making our state’s spending unsustainable. Our plan today is more cost effective, efficient and would benefit a far greater number of students in our state.”
The Assembly Minority’s plan includes the following:
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- Increasing the household income cap threshold from $80,000 to $125,000;
- Increasing the maximum TAP award from $5,165 to $6,470;
- Providing an extra $500 to every TAP Award recipient; and
- Providing an income tax deduction for both interest and principal student loan payments.
Assemblyman Lupinacci is the Ranking Minority member of the Higher Education Committee and a Professor at Farmingdale State College, Saint Joseph’s College, and Hofstra University.
