Since becoming governor in 2004, public schools gave gotten an additional $3 billion, and the state's colleges and universities received close to an extra $1 billion. (Seattle Times, September 18, 2008)

Rossi voted for a bill to create tuition surcharges for students taking excess credits at public colleges and universities. (SB 5135 2003)

Rossi believes that eliminating collective bargaining from contracting could save the state universities and community colleges a significant amount of money and would use a portion of the existing budget to give financial assistance to students who need it. (Washington Business Magazine, January 12, 2004)

Gregoire helped increase financial aid by $26.9 million, expand grant eligibility for working families, create enrollment slots for 7,900 new students and create four-year programs in Tacoma, Vancouver, Bothell and the Tri-Cities. (www.governor.wa.gov)

In 2006, Gregoire’s higher education proposal called for a cap of annual tuition increases at 7 percent at the University of Washington and Washington State University, and at 5 percent at all other four-year public universities. (Seattle Times, December, 15, 2006)

Rossi voted against allowing a small number (600) of welfare recipients to attend college and still be eligible for assistance. (SB 6296 2000)

Gregoire expanded Opportunity Grants, which help low-income adults begin – and continue in - long-term career development and fill the gaps left by traditional financial aid. (www.governor.wa.gov )

Rossi and other budget negotiators in the House and Senate reached an agreement on a 2003-2005 state budget that reduced public higher education funding by $131 million. (Seattle Post Intelligencer, June 6, 2003)

Gregoire said she proposed freezing community-college tuition to encourage more students to get degrees.” (Seattle Times, December, 15, 2006)

Gregoire signed into law a measure that will help make college textbooks and materials more affordable for community and technical college students. (www.governor.wa.gov)

Rossi cut nearly $17 million in voter-approved salary increases for community college teachers. (Proposed Senate 2003-2005 Operating Budget Highlights, 4/2/03, p. 18)