Changes

​

​

Representative Dimos rose to defend an old state law which permits Tulane, his alma mater, to avoid paying taxes to the state. The university instead places scholarship waivers into the hands of state legislators and the mayor of New Orleans, who then select the recipients. The purpose of the law was to make a college education available to qualified citizens who could not otherwise engage in formal higher education. Lawsuits have divulged that many of the recipients have been the well-to-do relatives of Louisiana judges and legislators.​

Representative Dimos rose to defend an old state law which permits Tulane, his alma mater, to avoid paying taxes to the state. The university instead places scholarship waivers into the hands of state legislators and the mayor of New Orleans, who then select the recipients. The purpose of the law was to make a college education available to qualified citizens who could not otherwise engage in formal higher education. Lawsuits have divulged that many of the recipients have been the well-to-do relatives of Louisiana judges and legislators.​

 

In 1996, then state Representative and later [[U.S. Representative]] and [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]], a Metairie Republican and also a Tulane alumnus, tried to end the program. Vitter's House Bill 41, a proposed amendment to the Louisiana Constitution, failed 44-57 in the House. Vitter said that the change is needed to end the controversy that began with revelations that lawmakers had awarded the scholarships to themselves, their children, and relatives of contributors.​

In 1996, then state Representative and later [[U.S. Representative]] and [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]], a Metairie Republican and also a Tulane alumnus, tried to end the program. Vitter's House Bill 41, a proposed amendment to the Louisiana Constitution, failed 44-57 in the House. Vitter said that the change is needed to end the controversy that began with revelations that lawmakers had awarded the scholarships to themselves, their children, and relatives of contributors.​

 

Although reforms were made, Vitter said the program is open for continued abuse. His bill would have phased out the Tulane scholarships, which were then worth about $20,000 per year, by the 1999-2000 academic year so those who are using the grants could finish their academic careers. The measure also would have stripped Tulane of property tax breaks the legislature approved in 1884, when the university started making the scholarships available.​

Although reforms were made, Vitter said the program is open for continued abuse. His bill would have phased out the Tulane scholarships, which were then worth about $20,000 per year, by the 1999-2000 academic year so those who are using the grants could finish their academic careers. The measure also would have stripped Tulane of property tax breaks the legislature approved in 1884, when the university started making the scholarships available.​

 

Dimos emerged as the House's foremost defender of Tulane. Any abuses were not the fault of Tulane, he argued, but of lawmakers who had undermined the intent of an otherwise worthy program. Since then, most of the legislators have relinquished the scholarship-recipient selection process to committees of citizens at arm's length from the individual legislator.<ref>Ed Anderson, "Tulane scholarships survive," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' May 30, 1996, p. A-2.</ref>​

Dimos emerged as the House's foremost defender of Tulane. Any abuses were not the fault of Tulane, he argued, but of lawmakers who had undermined the intent of an otherwise worthy program. Since then, most of the legislators have relinquished the scholarship-recipient selection process to committees of citizens at arm's length from the individual legislator.<ref>Ed Anderson, "Tulane scholarships survive," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' May 30, 1996, p. A-2.</ref>​