On Tuesday, one of former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders’ hallmark campaign promises became more of a reality in the state of New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a plan that would provide free tuition to any of New York’s public universities for citizens whose family earns less than $125,000 per year.
“College is a mandatory step if you really want to be a success … and this society should say we’re going to pay for college because you need college to be successful,” Cuomo said at an event that announced the Excelsior College plan. “Other countries have already done it. It’s time this country catches up.”
The initiative will reach over a million middle- and low-income families in the Empire State who make less than $125,000 per year. If passed, it would go into effect in 2019 and would cost the state approximately $163 million dollars.
