The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Byrnes named to statewide transportation task force
PUBLISHED: February 28, 2008
State Rep. Pam Byrnes, 52nd District, has been appointed to a statewide transportation task force that will examine new and alternative funding sources for transportation in Michigan.
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"Our transportation infrastructure is vital to the growth of both our state and national economy," Byrnes said. "Our infrastructure is literally crumbling around us. We need to find a stable funding source that will facilitate the mobility of people and goods throughout our state, as well as securing our ports of entry."
The task force was created by law to examine the current state of transportation funding and make recommendations for potential sources of transportation funding to replace or supplement the current 19-cent gas tax and the 15-cent state diesel tax.
Speaker of the House Andy Dillon said he appointed Byrnes to the nine-member task force because of her proven excellence dealing with transportation issues as both a former County Road Commissioner and as a member of the House Appropriations Subcom-mittee on Transportation.
Walberg pushes college opportunity legislation
On Feb. 7, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the College Opportunity and Affordability Act.
The legislation calls for billions of dollars in new financial aid for needy students to attend college and new steps to protect student loan borrowers and lower the cost of textbooks.
The bill, which passed 354 to 58, also would lead to the creation of a Web site to help families to compare the costs of schools and would require that institutions of higher education with rapidly growing tuition and fee prices report why costs are rising.
"Parents and students know that having a post-secondary education dramatically assists individuals in finding a well paying job," said Rep. Tim Walberg, R-District 7. "In this 21st century economy, we must prepare our students to obtain the skills of tomorrow. Unfortunately, as the demand for a college education has grown, costs have skyrocketed and institutions are not being held accountable to students, parents and taxpayers - the consumers of higher education.
"This legislation is consumer-driven and will make attending college more affordable for students of all income levels. The College Opportunity and Affordability Act holds colleges and universities accountable for excessive tuition increases, promotes transparency in college costs and simplifies the financial aid application process to make it available earlier and easier to understand."
The bill is similar to a bill passed by the U.S. Senate earlier this year.
If approved in its entirety, the bill would:
* Contain a $20 billion increase in federal student aid, the largest boost since the G.I. Bill of 1944.
Authorize the maximum level for the Pell Grant - given to low-income families - to $9,000 a year from the current school year award of about $4,300. The legislation permits students to receive Pell grants year-round; they are currently unable to obtain a grant in the summer.
* Simplify the federal financial aid process for students.
* Include measures requiring colleges to disclose their relationships with lenders and banning banks that issue federally backed loans from giving gifts and entering into profit-sharing agreements with colleges.
* Require textbook publishers to disclose the price of books when they sell them to teachers and ends a practice in which publishers sell books and supplemental materials together, which can drive up costs for students.
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