Lawmakers seek control of college tuition hikes - Houston Chronicle

Tuition at Texas universities has more than doubled in the 12 years since state lawmakers authorized colleges to set their own rates. Now legislators are pushing to take back that control. It’s not a new idea, but it stands a chance for the first time since 2003, when the state deregulated tuition, largely because it enjoys rare bipartisan support. At least three lawmakers, including Houston Democrat Sen. Rodney Ellis, have filed bills to re-regulate tuition in some way. The chair of the Senate’s higher education committee, Kel Seliger, an Amarillo Republican, plans to pitch tying tuition increases to performance by colleges — essentially making them earn a tuition bump. And Dan Patrick, the state’s new lieutenant governor, said last week that the “issue will be addressed this session.” http://www.news-journal.com/news/state/lawmakers-seek-control-of-college-tuition-hikes/article_d22ec0ef-d263-5d21-a83f-e0c6bfce416f.html