(AP) — Lawmakers on the House and Senate’s joint budget committee reversed course Wednesday and approved a $37 million tuition increase across public college campuses this fall that had been stalled previously.
Senators voted 8-5 for the cost hike, while House members voted 13-4 for it.
The approval gives the bill final passage and makes it one of the only tuition boosts that will likely escape the Legislature during the current session. About $85 million in college tuition and fee increases remain stalled in the House amid strong opposition.
Opponents called the tuition hike a tax on students, while supporters said it was needed to fill in budget gaps at colleges after several rounds of state budget cuts.
Senators working on next year’s construction budget stripped out $45 million in new projects added by the Jindal administration and added $4 million for seven projects vetoed by the governor last year.
 
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