Bring affordable college idea to Maryland

Long-term declines in state higher education funding and more recent severe budget cuts are pushing college out of reach for middle class and low-income students. Students and their families are forced to choose to either take on massive debt or shelve plans to attend college.

Background:
Economic Opportunity Institute
One-Page PDF on How it Works
Katrina vanden Heuvel: An Oregon Trail to End Student Debt
Maryland bills: House, and Senate.

A new plan called "Pay It Forward" recently passed in Oregon, and has now been introduced in Maryland. Under Pay It Forward, students would attend college with no upfront tuition. Instead, students would contribute a small, fixed-percentage of their income -- about 3 or 4 percent -- for a set number of years after college -- between 10 and 25 depending on where they attend school. Contributions would be placed back into the state's education fund and enable the next class of students to receive the same education free from massive, life-crippling student loans.

Leaders from across the country are considering action on Pay It Forward – and Maryland can set an example that will really help this trend catch fire. Email your state legislators and let them know you support Pay It Forward and expanded funding for public higher education:

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UPDATE:
Maryland: Del. Reznik announced that he would introduce legislation. Now he has, together with colleagues in both houses: House bill. Senate bill.

Massachusetts: Rep. Dan Winslow has introduced legislation, HB 3631, to study Pay It Forward pilots.
New Jersey: Sen. Sweeney and Asm. Riley will introduce legislation.
Ohio: Reps. Hagan and Foley have introduced legislation, HB 242, to study Pay It Forward pilots.
Oregon: Led by Rep. Michael Dembrow, the legislature unanimously passed House Bill 3472 to study Pay It Forward pilots.
Pennsylvania: Rep. Brendan Boyle has introduced House Resolution 429, Pay It Forward study bill, and Sen. Daylin Leach has introduced Senate Bill 1094, to create a loan repayment program using Pay It Forward's income-dependent contribution structure.
Vermont: Sen. Anthony Pollina will introduce legislation.
Washington: Rep. Seaquist will introduce legislation.
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley plans to introduce federal Pay It Forward legislation.