Lawmaker wants to raise state sales tax to help students pay for college

BY JAKE NEHER

There's a proposal in Lansing to raise the state's sales tax to help Michigan students pay for college.

Democratic state Representative Vicki Barnett's plan would boost the sales tax by one percent. She predicts that would raise more than a billion-and-a-half dollars a year to go toward students' in-state tuition.

Barnett talked about the plan on the Michigan Public Television program "Off the Record." She said too many students are being priced out of a college education.

"My proposal right now is to address the real need of students in a global economy," Barnett said.

But Barnett is having trouble garnering support in the House for the plan, even among Democrats. House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel said he's concerned about raising the state's sales tax to pay for the proposal. He said that would pass on too much of the cost to middle and low-income residents.