Statement of Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele in Support of Governor’s Initiative to Make College Tuition-Free for NY’s Middle Class

“Higher education is the key to success in an increasingly competitive global economy, yet it is becoming more and more unaffordable for the middle class. With student loan debt in America exceeding $1 trillion, young Americans are starting adult life deeper in debt, greatly affecting our State’s economy. I commend Governor Cuomo for taking a stand and taking the steps necessary to help the next generation of students get their education.

I have always been a strong advocate for affordable higher education, introducing legislation to help create an alternative model for funding higher education, A.2022 of 2016, whereby students would attend state college tuition-free, and then pay back a small percentage of their future income for a fixed number of years to a state revolving fund.”