Jackson Free Press

State Reps. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg, and Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, are asking Gov. Haley Barbour to call a special session to address the state's rising college tuition costs.

On Thursday, the state College Board voted 10-1 to approve tuition hikes at Mississippi's eight universities. The increases were as low as 4 percent at Alcorn State University and as high as 7.2 percent at Ole Miss. The board also approved increases in room and board charges.

Flaggs and Holland want Barbour to consider allocating money from the state's Rainy Day Fund to institutions of higher learning in lieu of the proposed tuition hike. The fund, which is also called the Working Cash Fund, currently has a balance of $72 million but legislators expect that to increase to $225 million by the end of the fiscal year. Both legislators consider the tuition hike a hidden tax increase on students and want the state legislature to give the universities an extra $25 million so that tuitions would not be raised.

"We are asking the governor for this action in lieu of the proposed tuition increase by the State College Board," both said in a statement. "We understand that universities have needs, but we do not agree with this tuition increase. We should not be trying to fund state government on the backs of these students, who are so desperately seeking a college education."

Responding to the legislators, Barbour's Press Secretary Pete Smith said the governor has not planned any more special sessions.