The Governor backed away and decided not to move forward with the plan to fund college for inmates. It is a relief to see that our tax dollars will remain with the families who need them most. We fought for the right priority and won.
April 28, 2014
Final supporters
Governor Cuomo has recently announced his intention to give free college classes to individuals incarcerated in state prisons. I do not support this plan.
While I am in favor of rehabilitation and reduced recidivism of inmates, I cannot in good conscience support the Governor’s plan when so many individuals and families in New York are struggling to meet the ever-rising costs of higher education.
Cuomo's plan, announced during the recent Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus at the Capitol, would provide college-level education at 10 state prisons, at a cost to taxpayers of about $5,000 per inmate per year. There are an estimated 54,500 inmates currently confined in state prisons.
Instead, I am fighting to restore the availability of graduate-level Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) funds for middle class taxpayers that was previously eliminated, and I will continue to fight for its reinstatement before I even begin to entertain the idea of supporting this program.
Thank you for joining me in opposition to the plan to give taxpayer-funded college to state prisoners.
We would like also note that there is a secondary petition that has been started outside of WNY. There are over 9,000 signatures as of March 23,2014 that petition can be found at http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/say-no-to-providing-prisoner
Updates
February 22, 2014
We just hit the five thousand signature mark and I am truly overwhelmed by the response to this issue. My own family struggled for years to afford tuition while watching our tax dollars get diverted from those who play by the rules. This milestone proves that regular New Yorkers are tired of being ignored.
Reached 5,000 supporters
February 20, 2014
February 19, 2014
Seeing this level of support confirms what I suspected all along. People are tired of watching their hard earned tax dollars go to prisoners while their own children struggle to afford a basic degree.
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 19, 2014
Reached 100 supporters
February 18, 2014
3,881 Comments
my son who is now in the Coast guards has 60,000 student loans, we have agout 30,000 as he could not get any funding. How dare you give free tuition to criminals, make them pay like we do. We alread give the board and food and free medical treatment
Hard-working, law-abiding citizens struggle or save to earn a degree. A FREE degree for inmates is a poor plan. I would however support a plan if the inmates paid for their education, either through their own loans or if they earn money in prison.
The children of the working class, the class which carries the rest of state on its back, can not afford college educations. It is not right to use our tax money to provide what we can not afford, to those who refuse to follow the laws of society.
My husband and I work hard 7 days a week and we still don't have enough for my children's college education. Seriously the State needs to get its prioritiess straight . People ask where do you live? When I tell them NY - Their response oh I'm sorry !!!
Why are we rewarding criminals, and allowing good, hard working people to struggle in order to go to college and pay their bills? I get the idea behind the proposal, but we are sending the wrong message and giving no incentive to law abiding citizens.
The scum of the earth do not deserve free college
absolute no tution for criminals or inmates !
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
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The Governor backed away and decided not to move forward with the plan to fund college for inmates. It is a relief to see that our tax dollars will remain with the families who need them most. We fought for the right priority and won.
April 28, 2014
Final supporters
Governor Cuomo has recently announced his intention to give free college classes to individuals incarcerated in state prisons. I do not support this plan.
While I am in favor of rehabilitation and reduced recidivism of inmates, I cannot in good conscience support the Governor’s plan when so many individuals and families in New York are struggling to meet the ever-rising costs of higher education.
Cuomo's plan, announced during the recent Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus at the Capitol, would provide college-level education at 10 state prisons, at a cost to taxpayers of about $5,000 per inmate per year. There are an estimated 54,500 inmates currently confined in state prisons.
Instead, I am fighting to restore the availability of graduate-level Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) funds for middle class taxpayers that was previously eliminated, and I will continue to fight for its reinstatement before I even begin to entertain the idea of supporting this program.
Thank you for joining me in opposition to the plan to give taxpayer-funded college to state prisoners.
We would like also note that there is a secondary petition that has been started outside of WNY. There are over 9,000 signatures as of March 23,2014 that petition can be found at http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/say-no-to-providing-prisoner
Updates
February 22, 2014
We just hit the five thousand signature mark and I am truly overwhelmed by the response to this issue. My own family struggled for years to afford tuition while watching our tax dollars get diverted from those who play by the rules. This milestone proves that regular New Yorkers are tired of being ignored.
Reached 5,000 supporters
February 20, 2014
February 19, 2014
Seeing this level of support confirms what I suspected all along. People are tired of watching their hard earned tax dollars go to prisoners while their own children struggle to afford a basic degree.
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 19, 2014
Reached 100 supporters
February 18, 2014
3,881 Comments
SO, in New York state, if you commit a felony you get a free ride through college...but if you are a law-abiding student with decent grades and working parents, your reward is to come out of college buried in debt so deep, you may NEVER recover?? NO!
my son who is now in the Coast guards has 60,000 student loans, we have agout 30,000 as he could not get any funding. How dare you give free tuition to criminals, make them pay like we do. We alread give the board and food and free medical treatment
Hard-working, law-abiding citizens struggle or save to earn a degree. A FREE degree for inmates is a poor plan. I would however support a plan if the inmates paid for their education, either through their own loans or if they earn money in prison.
The children of the working class, the class which carries the rest of state on its back, can not afford college educations. It is not right to use our tax money to provide what we can not afford, to those who refuse to follow the laws of society.
My husband and I work hard 7 days a week and we still don't have enough for my children's college education. Seriously the State needs to get its prioritiess straight . People ask where do you live? When I tell them NY - Their response oh I'm sorry !!!
Why are we rewarding criminals, and allowing good, hard working people to struggle in order to go to college and pay their bills? I get the idea behind the proposal, but we are sending the wrong message and giving no incentive to law abiding citizens.
The scum of the earth do not deserve free college
absolute no tution for criminals or inmates !
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SO, in New York state, if you commit a felony you get a free ride through college...but if you are a law-abiding student with decent grades and working parents, your reward is to come out of college buried in debt so deep, you may NEVER recover?? NO!