State figures reflect a 53 percent rise for tuition and fees at state universities, the AP reported.

“Students are getting priced out of going to college. Tuition will continue to go up unless we reign it in,” he said. “Hopefully, we can reverse that action.”

Deshotel said though he understands universities’ budgetary needs, people have to be able to afford higher education if the U.S. is to be an educated nation.

Extending the public education to include four years of higher education is an idea Deshotel said he is in favor of.

Deshotel said legislators would also be looking at placing greater emphasis on training programs in public schools.

Including more vocational-type programs, and giving students ample credit for those courses, would be beneficial for Southeast Texas public school students because of industrial expansions in the area, he said.

“Studies have shown that students who take hand-on training have a lower drop-out rate,” Deshotel said. “Our studies show that we are way short on the skills needed for today’s job market.”

Deshotel said he is working on legislation that would incorporate more training programs in public schools.

Other key issues confronting the state lawmakers are expanding the state’s CHIP health insurance program for children by streamlining the application process.

“We don’t want people on the program who don’t qualify, but we can streamline the process to where it is not so cumbersome,” he said.

Other issues important to Southeast Texans to be addressed this session include protecting the area’s water rights and finding revenue for transportation projects.

skoonce@panews.com