Lawmakers in Washington take a shot at controlling the cost of going to college.

The Higher Education Act is a series of small to mid-size steps aimed at addressing the ever-increasing cost of tuition and books.

Southwest Houston State Representative Scott Hochberg says it's not really up to the feds:
"The cost of sending someone through college at a state university is controlled by the state."

Hochberg says he wants to re-regulate Texas colleges and universities, saying the governor's plan to leave rate hikes in the hands of the schools isn't working out:
"We're the ones responsible for determining the funding level for colleges. We're the ones for determining the level of support for those colleges. And it is up to the legislature to make sure that they're affordable for the people who live in our districts."

One of the ideas in the federal measure would create a "watch list" for colleges that drastically and unexpectedly raise costs on tuition and books. The idea is to "shame" them into controlling costs.

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