In Arizona, State Representative John Kavanagh, (R-Fountain Hills), introduced HB2675, a bill which would have required full-time students attending Arizona universities to pay $2,000 per year with no financial assistance, i.e. “out of pocket”, from any entity affiliated with an in-state university, unless they had a full athletic or academic scholarship because he “read” somewhere that 48% of Arizona State University undergrads don’t pay for tuition, the implication being of some Arizona undergrads are receiving a “free” education.
Even though everyone knows that a college education isn’t free. But far be it from us to get in the way of a good story.
He said “free tuition works well when the recipient earns it but carries a high-unseen cost, when dispensed to others.” Translation: Only athletic and/or national merit-based scholarship kinds of “free” tuition recipients earn it, of course. Need-based recipients of financial aid do not. As such, they have no skin in the game.
“I don’t see why these (college graduates) who are going to earn so much more (than high school graduates) can’t take out loans for $2,000. It’s a small fraction of the cost of their education. Graduating with an $8,000 loan is not the end of the world.” – State Representative John Kavanagh, (R-Fountain Hills)
Notice the last sentence. He honestly does not know non athletic/academic financial aid students BORROW the money to attend school. He is obviously unaware the amount of undergrad student debt at ASU increased 6.1% during the 2010-2011 academic year. Not only that, the University of Arizona jacked up tuition $1800 last April. No out of pocket expenses does not equal “free”. What a maroon.
Thankfully, this bill died 3/1/12. But you can be sure someone somewhere is going to try to make you believe that college students who aren’t getting a “full ride” are some how getting a “free ride”. Seems to us a professor of criminal justice at Scottsdale Community College and director of the college’s Administration of Justice Studies and Forensic Science Program would be one who’d know first hand of the inaccuracy of what he speaks.
After all, Ph.D’s don’t come cheap, do they Mr. Kavanagh?
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Recalled Arizona Rep. State Senator Russell Pearce, the guy who introduced the nation to the now infamous Arizona SB1070 and who was later recalled, is apparently bored with being put out to pasture as the Vice President of the Arizona Republican Party. Listing “quality education, real school choice, lower taxes and less regulation as the cure for a struggling Arizona economy, he plans to run again, saying:
“I know my duty, It’s been a nice vacation, but it’s time to go back to work. We have a sacred duty to this land.”
It’s that “sacred duty” kind of attitude, our friend Eclectablog reminds us, that is precisely the kind of attitude the late Senator Goldwater was referring to when he said:
“When you say “radical right” today, I think of these moneymaking ventures by fellows like Pat Robertson and others who are trying to take the Republican party and make a religious organization out of it. If that ever happens, kiss politics goodbye.“
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Enter HB2625. This bill allows an employer to have control over your vagina, ladies. That’s what having to get a “note” proving endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome for your employer from your doctor means. You can also be terminated from a job for using birth control should your employer have a “moral objection”. It’s the state of Arizona’s “get into your knickers free” card! Think “big brother is policing your vagina’” kind of government.
Who does that again? Oh yes.
The Taliban.
Yours truly,
political ole lady
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