Promise to students shattered
by Michael C. Bender | May 1st, 2009A promise made to tens of thousands of Florida students more than a decade ago was shattered Thursday as lawmakers ruled that Bright Futures Scholarships would not pay for an increase in base college tuition next year.
The move was practically unthinkable in years before the current economic calamity when Sen. Ken Pruitt protected the program so fiercely. University leaders desperate to change the money-hungry plan dared not push it when the Port St. Lucie Republican ruled as Senate president.
Yet in the waning days of a dizzying legislative session for higher education, lawmakers agreed not to extend the scholarships to cover hikes in base tuition next year because of state budget shortfalls.
Tags: Bright Futures, state budget, state universities, tuition
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