Congress fights cost of books

A new bill in Congress could ease the pain felt by college students buying textbooks each semester.\nCongressman David Wu, D-Ore., and member of the House Education Committee, introduced a bill to the House of Representatives Thursday to have the General Accounting Office, the investigative division of Congress, look into why American students pay more for textbooks than students overseas. \nThe GAO will also determine why U.S. college bookstores are banned from buying cheaper alternatives, like used books or paperbacks, that universities overseas have access to, according to a statement made by Wu Thursday in Washington, D.C.\n"American college students should not have to pay double what overseas students pay for identical college textbooks," Wu said in the statement. "The pricing practices of the college textbook industry defy common sense, and today I am announcing legislation to get to the bottom of it."\nWu started taking action when he talked to Portland State University's bookstore manager about the situation and found out this had been a source of frustration for quite some time, said Cameron Johnson, Wu's spokesperson. Textbooks in the United States can be as much as $100, whereas the same textbook in paperback overseas is $50.\n"Textbooks that Americans could buy overseas, even with the shipping, are significantly cheaper," Johnson said. "Given tuition is rising at high levels for American families sending their kids to college, we want to find out why this is happening. Is there price gouging going on? We just don't know."\nSenior Jeffery Toschlog, an employee at T.I.S. College Bookstore, 1302 E. Third Street, is in favor of the bill's progression.\n"I'm going to like it if it will lower the prices … because, of course, I don't like paying for books," Toschlog said. "I think people are going to buy books no matter what, but there would be a more positive attitude among students and their parents if the prices of books become lower."\nIf Wu's goal is reached, students will not be the only ones affected. Bookstores across the nation will benefit as well. \n"I feel good about the efforts being made by the congressman," said Paul Hazel, director of the IU Bookstore in the Indiana Memorial Union. "Some progress has been made but not nearly as much as what Congress can do."\nIt may be up to a year before the GAO's investigation yields any kind of information to support further progress of Wu's bill, according to his statement.\nJohnson said he wants students interested in supporting the process to know they should contact their congressman and tell them to co-sponsor HR3567. \n"That's the best way for anyone to help," he said.\nGiven the encouragement of Wu and his supporters, the bill could potentially make the ride through college less bumpy.\n"College students and American families have to pay for tuition, room and board, books and travel," Johnson said. "We want to reduce the overall cost of a college education. We want to make college as affordable as possible."\n-- Contact staff writer Stacie Vasko at svasko@indiana.edu.