Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Maegan Burr Student Body President, Spencer Pearson, introduced the tax-free textbook bill at the State Capitol Building Wendsday.

Students gathered at the Utah State Legislature yesterday to advocate a bill that would eliminate the state sales tax on college textbooks.

The Associated Students of the University of Utah sponsored a press conference to gain student and legislative support of the tax-cut bill they will introduce to the Legislature this spring.

"We wanted to show the Legislature that there is student support for this in all (Utah) schools, not just the University of Utah," said ASUU Government Relations Director Marko Mijic. "This will be a catalyst for a grassroots movement."

Student leaders from the U and other Utah universities discussed the bill in the hopes that legislators would listen as they passed through on Interim Day, a day when lawmakers hold monthly meetings. Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, is sponsoring the bill, but ASUU is seeking a Senate sponsor. Hughes chairs the House Education Committee and the influential Conservative Caucus.

"We want to create an awareness outside the student population," said ASUU Vice President Basim Motiwala.

The bill, designed to mitigate the rising cost of higher education, would eliminate sales tax on any required publication for all Utah colleges and universities, both public and private. If passed, Utah students would save about $4.7 million annually and each student would get about $60 back in his or her pocket each semester.

Christi Olcott, a student advocate for the Utah Student Association, said the saved money would allow students to take another credit hour for the year and graduate faster.

"It represents tangible benefits for every student within higher education in Utah," said Spencer Pearson, ASUU president.

University Campus Store Assistant Director Shane Girton said the U bookstore is making efforts to reduce costs by offering used and electronic books and buyback programs, but this bill would be the "single most effective contribution to these efforts statewide."

Girton said the bookstore will start a textbook rental program this summer that allows students to rent books for one-third of the cost and return them at the end of the semester.

Continued...

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