Gov. Ritter of Colorado visits with 'got tuition?'

Sept 12, 2008--Colorado Governor Ritter sat down today with 13 students who attend Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, CO at a roundtable discussion about college affordability and his efforts to assist Colorado students with their tuition. Last year, the AVERAGE student loan debt at graduation for Arapahoe Community College students was $11,806. Colorado's current need-based financial aid ranks near the bottom in the nation, according to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.

Here in Colorado, there is an initiative on the ballot that tries to address this issue. Amendment 58 will end Colorado's outdated $300 million a year tax subsidy for the oil and gas industry and make smarter investments in Colorado's future. Passage of Amendment 58 will create the Colorado Promise Scholarship Fund. It will TRIPLE the financial aid available to Colorado student, enabling as many as two-thirds of Colorado's families to qualify for scholarships.