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Collins' simple idea wins a page

By Danielle Paine

Reminder Assistant Editor



WILBRAHAM Out of 22,000 ideas from ordinary people to improve the lives of working families, the 18th best came from Wilbraham.

John Collins entered the "Best Idea Since Sliced Bread Contest" in December after seeing an ad in Parade Magazine. Following the instructions, he wrote up a few paragraphs describing a simple concept that would make life better.

"A lot of kids graduate now-a-days with a mortgage on their brain," Collins said about his submission. "It is not uncommon for them to have 20, 30 or $40,000 in loans."

Like the other winning entries recently published in the Since Sliced Bread book, Collins' is simple: Let parents deduct the money they're spending on higher education from their income tax and let full-time students with jobs be tax exempt.

Collins currently has two children in college. Nicholas is a senior at Westfield State majoring in business and Christopher is a music education major at the University of Hartford's Hartt Music School. Collins hopes for them to graduate without racking up debt.

"We had a goal as a family to get our kids through college without any debt," Collins explained. "Everybody chipped in. My wife and I work and our kids work part time, sometimes two jobs, so they had a share in paying for school as well."

In February 2006, Collins went to Washington D.C. for a formal reception of the book's finalists and the official announcement of the winners of cash prizes. First place received $100,000 with two $50,000 prizes given to the two runners-up.

"I didn't win a prize but I still think my idea has a really good shot of getting implemented," he said. "So that would be a prize for everybody."

In fact, he said that 14 bills are currently in congress addressing this issue. The bill most similar to Collins' idea is titled The Make College Affordable Act of 2007 and is being sponsored by republican Representative Ron Paul of Texas.

Like Collins' idea, the act calls for a full tax deduction of income spent on higher education and student loan interest. Collins was especially excited because the act was proposed after his idea had been submitted.

"Maybe I helped or maybe great minds think alike," he said with a chuckle.

The book and contest were a project of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) who is also lobbying to have many of these ideas implemented in the government. Some submissions are currently being made into law. Two of the three top ideas included tying the minimum wage increases into the rising cost of living and simple reforms for public schools.

"It is very inspiring to know that regular people, not just politicians, have a lot great ideas," Collins said.

The book, "Since Sliced Bread: Common Sense Ideas from America's Working Families," is now available through www.sinceslicedbread.com.