Letter: A Pa. tax credit to ease student debt

ISSUE | STUDENT DEBT

Plan for Pa. tax credit

When the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education was formed in 1983, universities were funded by about 75 percent state money and 25 percent student tuition and fees. Now, it's the exact opposite.

This disinvestment in higher education on the state level has driven student debt to an all-time high. Student loans are the second-largest form of consumer debt in the country, trailing only mortgages.

I have introduced legislation in the Pennsylvania House that would provide a tax credit of up to $2,500 a year for interest paid on student loans. The credit would be available to individuals making up to $75,000 and couples making up to $155,000.

My bill has sat untouched for more than a year by the Republican majority that runs the legislative calendar. With my bill and Gov. Wolf's commitment to making higher education more affordable, we can begin to tackle the student debt crisis in Pennsylvania. It's time for Republicans in Harrisburg to get on board.

|Mike O'Brien, state representative, 175th District, Philadelphia, MOBrien@pahouse.net