Sir Francis Bacon coined the phrase “Knowledge is power” in his 1597 publishing of ‘Meditationes Sacrae and Human Philosophy.’ Knowledge is something that sees no color, creed, religion or gender. It is a power we all can obtain if given the proper tools. Millions of young adults wish to expand their minds and obtain this sought-after knowledge, but find access to the very institutions that provide it out of reach. In layman’s terms, higher education has become a lost hope for many, because they do not have the means to attend these increasingly-expensive institutions. This must change.

This week, my colleagues and I in the Assembly Minority Conference proposed a plan to provide thousands of New Yorkers across the state the opportunity to attend colleges and universities, and obtain the knowledge that is available at these institutions. The “Affordable College for All Initiative” is a plan to expand financial assistance to middle- and lower-income families while also including a component that lowers taxes for graduates paying back student loans.

Unlike the governor’s proposed “Free Education” plan, which only seeks to cover low-income households and provide free tuition to illegal immigrants, the Assembly Minority’s plan looks after the law-abiding, middle- and lower-classes. We should be less focused on policy which rewards law-breakers, and more focused on the hard-working legal residents who are struggling to make ends meet. Some key proponents of the “Affordable College for All Initiative” include increasing the income threshold for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) from $80,000 to $125,000, increasing the amount of TAP given 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 amounts of student loans.

These components combine to open access to higher education for thousands of families who make too much to qualify for TAP, but far too little to take on such an expense without assistance. It also focuses on post-college life by providing a tax credit to graduates paying back student loans, lessening a burden that is a major issue in current times.

Helping those who wish to further their education is a bi-partisan issue. The “Affordable College for All Initiative” is a plan that looks after all New Yorkers who are in need, and I encourage my colleagues across the aisle to support it.

I am excited to connect with you, listen to your thoughts about these issues and any other legislative matters that come to mind. Please contact me by emailing blankenbushk@nyassembly.gov or calling my office at 493-3909.