Republicans Support Text Book Tax Relief Bill
Only three out of ten students purchase textbooks because rising prices have made them cost-prohibitive. This makes it more difficult for students to follow course-reading schedules and could hinder their education.
Tim Donnelly approached the UCSB College Republicans for their support of the bill. The Club voted to collectively endorse the bill at their general meeting last week. “Unfortunately Republicans are often characterized as somehow less concerned with education than the Democrats. I think this bill is a wonderful example of a Republican trying to make education more affordable and accessible,” said College Republicans Executive Director Sara Callahan.
“AB 479 recognizes the importance of education in our state and removes an added burden the state currently places on students pursuing higher education,” said Assemblyman Donnelly. He continued, “By removing the sales tax on textbooks purchased at college bookstores, this measure will help hundreds of thousands of students throughout our state be able to more easily afford the cost of education.”
For this reason the bill is very much a bipartisan proposal. College Republicans Secretary Alice Gilbert presented the bill to the Democrats at their weekly Tuesday meeting. “I whole-heartedly support this issue because students are a huge part of the voting constituency who often get overlooked because its hard for politicians to make any substantial changes that effect them. Although this bill seems very small, grand promises like lowering tuition and student fees is often beyond politicians’ control. Donnelly can actually make this change, a sign that he is someone genuinely concerned about students and education. I respect that,” said Gilbert. Gilbert hopes the Campus Democrats will also formally endorse the proposed bill.
Donnelly says he plans to travel to UCSB to speak on behalf of his bill sometime in the near future.
Readers can sign the petition in support of the Textbook Tax Relief Act by visiting here