Southern Republican governor leading free college movement

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Sheila Burke, Associated Press

Updated 9:39 am, Sunday, March 12, 2017


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, a Republican from a deep red Southern state, has emerged as an unlikely leader of the free tuition movement.

The state made history three years ago when Haslam pushed the passage of an education bill that offers free community college to all new high school graduates, making the Volunteer State the first in the country to do so.

Tennessee also made the state's technical schools free to residents, no matter how long ago they graduated.

Now Haslam is pushing for an expansion in Tennessee, one that would make it the first state to offer free community college to nearly all adults who do not have a post-secondary degree or certificate.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/education/article/Southern-Republican-governor-leading-free-college-10996029.php

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(Short article, no more at link.)

[redstateblues]

1. Unfortunately our State House and Senate are made up

Last edited Sun Mar 12, 2017, 10:12 PM - Edit history (1)

Of a bunch of goobers who want to pass a law allowing guns in bars.

[shenmue]

2. Yipes

[Docreed2003]

3. Exactly...our state legislature is too busy trying to remove LGBT rights

To focus on something so silly as affordable college!

[Lucky Luciano]

4. What a commie!!!

Seriously though - what's the catch? Sounds too reasonable for a republican.

[MadLinguist]

5. Haslam is an unusual governor, specially for his party

He pushed, albeit unsuccessfully, to get Tennessee to be a medicare extension state under the Affordable Care Act. His fellow republicans in the state congress blocked him year after year, but he kept trying, pointing the cost to medical center ERs across the state, and other such rational arguments. I think he actually is trying to improve the state he governs, which makes him a renegade in GOP eyes

[harun]

6. Need more like him

[KittyWampus]

8. Thanks for that info.

[tblue37]

9. Medicare--or Medicaid? nt

[MadLinguist]

10. Sorry, I meant Medicaid of course

Insure Tennessee was the fight about the expansion of Medicaid.

[KittyWampus]

7. This many help bring jobs/people to his state so it's a win/win.