Rep. Hans Zeiger appointed to lead Republicans on House Higher Education Committee
Rep. Hans Zeiger will be the ranking Republican on the House Higher Education Committee when the Legislature convenes in January, Republican caucus leaders announced Thursday.
“Washington's college students and working families want quality higher education, and they want it to be affordable,” said Zeiger, R-Puyallup. “The state has cut public funding too deeply, but the universities have been accustomed to spending money too freely. We need both lower tuition and fiscal restraint in our state's colleges and universities.”
Zeiger said he is working on a higher education policy agenda to engage the private sector in a creative new financing program for highly demanded degrees, like engineering and computer science. He also wants to drive down university textbook costs through innovative open course textbooks, require university departments to publicly disclose how they spend tuition and tax dollars, launch a formal state review of cost drivers in higher education, and promote community colleges as a pathway out of poverty.
Zeiger also received two new committee assignments, the House Community Development, Housing and Tribal Affairs Committee and the House Rules Committee. The community development committee also considers veterans, parks and recreation, tourism and the government-to-government relationship of the state and Indian tribes issues as well as legislation relating to accessibility and affordability of housing and state assistance to low-income housing. The Rules Committee determines which bills will be considered for a vote on the House floor.
Zeiger will remain on the House Transportation Committee. “It is important to me to remain on the committee as we work toward the completion of Highway 167 while advancing major reforms to bring down the costs of transportation projects.”
The legislative session begins Monday, Jan. 12.
