Revenue from the 1 percent grocery tax--expected to be about $50 million in fiscal year 2002--will be earmarked for higher education, which sustained nearly a 7 percent cut in funding in the 2001–2002 state budget. Hodges' vetos, if not overridden by legislators when they reconvene June 28, would mean a restoration of about $24.5 million in appropriations for USC.

"With a stroke of the veto pen, I will eliminate the cuts to our colleges," Hodges said in announcement in front of Lieber College on the Horseshoe.

He made similar announcements earlier in the day at other colleges and universities around the state.

"We owe it to our kids to make college affordable. Education is the No. 1 priority of this administration," Hodges said.

Following the outcome of the June 28 legislative session, boards of trustees at colleges and universities around the state likely will meet to reconsider tuition hikes for 2001–2002. Based on the state budget that made dramatic cuts to higher education, USC's board last week approved a 10.4 percent tuition hike.