A group of Texas State Representatives and State Representatives-elect are slamming the University of Texas System for its free tuition program.
“There is perhaps no greater responsibility we share than to be good stewards with tax dollars, and we are extremely troubled by the recent decision to provide ‘free’ tuition UT System-wide to undergraduate students whose families earn up to $100,000,” the politicians wrote to System Chairman Kevin P. Eltife and the Board of Regents.
“As the constitutional officers who bear the sole and heavy authority to direct and determine how our constituents; hard-earned tax dollars-which is their money forcibly taken from them by the government-are used, we have the following questions,” the letter said.
The lawmakers had myriad questions for Eltife and the regents, including:
- What statutory authority did the regents use to justify the decision?
- Was the legislature consulted in any way?
- How much does the UT System estimate the program to cost?
- Will this program apply to non-citizens or illegal aliens?
“Since the regents appear to believe the UT System has excess funding sufficient to provide ‘free’ tuition to families making $100k/year, does the UT Stem plan on asking for a reduction in state funding in the next budget?” the letter states.
The letter was signed by State Reps. Brian Harrison, Nate Schatzline, and Steve Toth. It was also signed by State Representative-elect, Janis Holt, Mike Olcott, Brent Money, Andy Hopper, Helen Kerwin, David Lowe, Wes Virdell, and Keresa Richardson.
The lawmakers did not receive an immediate response.
Several state representatives tweeted on X to chime in on the letter.
“Nothing is free. This outrageous abuse of power by unelected, executive branch bureaucrats makes higher education in Texas more socialist than California. A decision this consequential should only be made by the legislature. If you liked Biden’s unconstitutional loan forgiveness program, you’ll love this. The legislature must stop this Nancy Pelosi-esque, regressive, welfare-for-the-rich program that abuses working class Texans by forcing them to fund “free” college for “LGBTQ Studies” students. There must be consequences. UT’s budget must be cut, and bureaucrats should be fired,” Harrison wrote on X.
“Should a family who is struggling to buy groceries & put gas in the tank really be paying for an adult’s 4 year “gender studies” degree whose parents make $99k/year!? NO!!Last I checked, we are NOT a socialist Country, we did NOT elect Bernie Sanders to be our President on Nov. 5th, & this type of welfare program is considered TOO PROGRESSIVE for California!” Schatzline wrote on X.