A bill to give the legislature control over tuition hikes passed through the state senate today. Lawmakers are upset the Board of Governor’s is attempting to raise tuition without their approval. Many lawmakers say the bill is about providing better education, but some say it’ simply about power.

There’s a battle in Tallahassee over who controls the state’s university system. Lawmakers have fast tracked a bill through the senate to give the legislature control over tuition hikes.

Sheila McDevitt, the Vice Chair of the Board of Governors, says the bill creates unnecessary competition among the state’s 11 universities.

“It would pit our schools in the system against one another, because depending on who’s in power in the legislature, or where the school is located, those schools are going to try to get the best thing for themselves.”

Senator Arthenia Joyner says the bill is about ego, not providing better education.

“Some say its about tuition, but ultimately it’s about power. It’s about control.”

The Board of Governors and the legislature both voted to raise tuition. A court battle is underway to decide who really has the right to raise cost.

Florida already has the worst student to faculty ratio in the nation with 30 students to every tenured professor.

Bernie Machen, University of Florida President, say Universities need a tuition hike to hire more faculty. The University of Florida needs the extra money just to keep the lights on.

“We need it to pay our bills so our students will have teachers in classrooms to give them the education they want.”

Students say regardless of who has the power to raise costs, they’re against any tuition hike.