Senate Democrats Kill Republican’s College Scholarship Bill

- Democrat leaders refuse to give bill a committee hearing

An Edmond state senator said he is disappointed that the State Senate’s Democrat majority killed a bill aimed at helping more people go to college in Oklahoma.

Senate Bill 1658, by Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, was not given a hearing by Senate Democrats before Monday’s committee deadline, killing the measure for the year. The bill would have provided tax credits to Oklahoma companies that pay for their employees’ higher education or helped to fund the OHLAP program.

“My bill would have increased the number of people who can go to a college or university by providing a tax credit to Oklahoma companies that pay tuition, books or fees on behalf of employees seeking their first Bachelor’s degree. Employers that give to organizations that provide scholarships to the poorest Oklahomans would also qualify for the tax credits,” Jolley said.

“It is disappointing that a party whose leadership claims to support higher education is only interested in seeing their own ideas advanced,” he stated.