By Bob Howell – WSFA 12 News – Montgomery, AL

Republican Dr. Robert Bentley’s bill to guarantee PACT contracts came out of committee on Wednesday.  Here’s his campaign release on the bill and its impact on the college tuition plan.

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MONTGOMERY – Earlier today, the House Education Appropriations Committee unanimously passed Dr. Robert J. Bentley’s bill to fully fund the Alabama Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (PACT) program (HB 775). HB 775 is an amendment to the Alabama Constitution to guarantee existing PACT contracts are fully funded.  The amendment prohibits new enrollees, requires PACT to use its money in guaranteed investments, and authorizes borrowing. Voters must approve the amendment in November. 

Earlier this year, the PACT board voted not to pay Alabama universities at the actual rate of tuition beginning in fall 2010.  Some estimates of the “PACT gap” between what PACT would pay and university tuition costs begin at $500 per semester, in addition to other fees. 

Dr. Bentley stated, “I introduced this constitutional amendment to guarantee PACT funding because I believe Alabama has a moral and legal responsibility to honor 100% of these contracts for 100% of the participants. I have been at the forefront of the effort to Save Alabama’s PACT, and believe the legislature needs to act now to fix this problem instead of letting our prior attempted fix languish without resolution in the Senate.  I want to emphasize that this is a loan to the PACT and not a bailout.  Additionally, higher education and K-12 representatives have signed off on this bill.”

Dr. Bentley continued, “I want to again thank Representatives Ford and Wren for their bipartisan leadership in passing this bill through the House Education Appropriations Committee. However, as I have stated before, the real credit for passing this bill goes to Alabama’s parents and grandparents who, in the best traditions of American democracy, called on their State Representatives and Senators to resolve the issue.  Additionally, Patti Lambert & Dr. Richard Huckaby of Save Alabama PACT deserve special recognition for their efforts to help parents and grandparents organize their support for fixing the PACT.”  

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