Jan 14, 2014 03:29 PM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would have explored alternatives to paying for college with student loans.

The bill proposed the creation of a "College Affordability Study Commission" that would have explored ways to eliminate student loans, the Star-Ledger reported.

One of the main plans the commission would explore is called "Pay it Forward, Pay it Back," which would have public college waive tuition and take a portion of students' future salaries. Christie said he vetoed the bill because a similar initiative is already underway. Another cost-cutting option would be an accelerated program for high school students pursuing a medical degree.

"Quite simply, the proposed work of the Commission is redundant of current efforts underway by the Secretary of Higher Education and (Higher Education Student Assistance Authority," Christie wrote in his decision.

The bill's sponsor, Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), said in statement he could "not express how disappointed" he was over the governor's decision.

"We are facing a college affordability crisis here in New Jersey," Sweeney said. "The answers won't just present themselves. We have to act."

College graduates in New Jersey average the eighth-highest student loan debt total in the country at $29,287, according to data from the Project on Student Debt. The "Pay it Forward" tuition plan has yet to be adopted but Oregon previously did what New Jersey would not: explore it. Other states like Washington, Hawaii, Ohio and Pennsylvania are also considering steps similar to Oregon's, the Huffington Post reported.

Sweeney introduced the bill in August, the Ledger previously reported.  

"When kids are getting out of college, they're buried in debt," Sweeney said at the time. "It gives another pathway to higher education. As someone who didn't go to college and recognizes how fortunate I am that things worked out for me, you don't want to leave things up to luck."

In his statement Monday, Sweeney said he and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley are not finished with the bill.

"As we begin the new session, I fully plan, along with my colleague Assemblywoman Celeste Riley, on reintroducing the bill," Sweeney said. "New Jersey's middle class families and the working poor can't afford, literally and figuratively, for us to sit idly by and do nothing."

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