Collins seeks to ban federal dollars for Cuomo college for convicts plan

Rep. Chris Collins Thursday jacked up his opposition to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's proposal to provide college educations for prison inmates by introducing legislation blocking use of federal dollars for the program.

Collins said the federal Bureau of Prisons provides states with funding for educational and other programs at state prisons and correctional facilities, adding his bill would ban states from using the money to fund college degree programs for convicted criminals. 

“The governor’s latest plan to fund college educations for convicted criminals with New Yorkers’ tax dollars is an insult to law-abiding citizens all across our state,” he said. “We hear over and over again from politicians concerned about the growing cost of higher education and the amount of student debt our young people are sacked with after earning their degree. Strangely, many of these same politicians think tax dollars should be spent to give convicted criminals a free college degree.”

Collins said he will formally introduce the legislation in the coming days.