Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today attended a press conference held by Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C,I,Ref-Canandaigua) to call for a number of higher education reforms that would help a greater number of students to afford college and those who are struggling to pay off students loans. Among the proposals are measures to increase the maximum award per student under the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and increase the household income cap threshold for more students to qualify for TAP. Furthermore, the Assembly Minority Conference is proposing that principal and interest be tax deductible for student loan payments.

“A college education is one of the gateways to a more prosperous future,” Hawley said. “The governor’s taxpayer-funded college tuition proposal is limiting in the number of students that will be affected, while our proposal will aid more low-income students and those in graduate school. We cannot continue to alienate graduate students and those pursuing an advanced degree. A better-educated New York means more financially-stable families and more career-ready students upon graduation.”