Government

W. Kent Barnds asks: Are they really that different?

With nearly 50 different local tuition-free initiatives, California colleges contemplate how they may merge existing programs with a new statewide plan.

Plan targets large endowments of private colleges and eliminates many deductions benefiting student loan borrowers and graduate students.

The higher ed lobby has singled out specific provisions of Republicans’ proposed tax overhaul instead of taking on the idea that loopholes should be closed to pay for lower corporate taxes. Leaders say that’s the right strategy, even though polling shows the bill is widely unpopular.

Exempting tuition waivers from taxation is not only fair, but it is also a continuing commitment to the economic and societal benefits of accessible higher education, argues Mary Grace B. Hébert.

Tax on wealthy private college endowments is included. Deductions for state and local taxes -- viewed as essential by public higher ed -- would be killed. Some other provisions of House bill opposed by colleges are not included.

Graduate students and higher education experts warn GOP plan to tax tuition waivers would be disastrous to both students’ finances and institutions’ teaching and research missions.

Republican tax plan would cut off key source of borrowing and impose new taxes on wealthy institutions. Some see historic shift in view of elite universities from a public good worthy of sheltering from taxes to a source of funds for government.