More on the petition drive at the University of Montana and Montana State University for boosting university funding:

Students at the University of Montana in Missoula and
Montana State University in Bozeman today kicked off their push for relief
for students and families faced with skyrocketing college tuition.

"Because the Governor and Republican legislative leaders won't invest in the
university system, a college education is fast becoming a luxury and out of
reach for Montana's working families," said Gretchen Kruesi, a student at
MSU in Bozeman. "Montanans don't want a university system where only the
most fortunate can afford to attend college. That would be harmful to our
communities, our future and our economy."

The petition asks Governor Martz to call a special session in October to use
some of the 73 million dollars in federal windfall money to help families
and students with rising tuition. The students also said some of the money
should go to helping the elderly and low income pay skyrocketing power
bills, helping families in need and investing in schools to create jobs and
boost the economy.

UM student Tim Tatarka said Gov. Martz and the Republicans should "Put their
money where their mouth is," and live up to promises to help stem the steep
rise in college tuition costs. "Empty promises from Republican leaders don't
help Montanans who need to change careers because of the lagging economy.
Empty promises don't help students from working families who want a college
degree to get ahead but can't afford the tuition costs."

"Those empty promises are an insult to students, low-income and elderly
Montanans and families struggling to get by when the Governor has millions
of dollars stashed away in her sugar bowl," Tatarka said.

Kruesi said the Governor could act now to help students and families if she
chose to, either on her own authority through budget amendments or by
calling an October special session. "Waiting until next year to do something
about double-digit tuition increases is too late for many of our classmates,
because they're going to have to leave school if they don't get relief from
rising tuition costs" she said.

The students noted that college tuition has skyrocketed 282 percent since
1993, while the state's share of funding the university system has declined
from nearly 80 percent to 40 percent. They tied lack of investment in
education to the declining economy; saying states that invest in education
are creating better-paying jobs and are experiencing economic growth.

This came from the Democratic Party.