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Gov. Scott campaigns in Orlando, discusses affordable higher education

ORLANDO, Fla. — The race for governor made a stop in central Florida Friday.

Gov. Rick Scott campaigned near the campus of the University of Central Florida.

His talking points focused on keeping the cost of college tuition affordable for students.

Scott touted his repeal of mandatory state college tuition hikes.

Scott slammed his opponent, Charlie Crist, who backed raising tuition by 15 percent each year when he was in office.

Before Crist was elected in 2007, the Legislature had no cap on the price of education.

Later that year, it voted to let the biggest state research universities increase rates by up to 15 percent each year.

But it wasn't until 2013 that Scott vetoed such a tuition hike.

WFTV asked him why it took so long to save students money into his tenure in Tallahassee.

"Back in 2011, there was a 15 percent increase under watch and the Lt. Gov. also supported it. I've cut the line on tuition every chance I had the opportunity. Charlie Crist passed legislation that increased it 15 percent of the year and this year we've stopped that," said Scott.

WFTV reached out to Crist's campaign, which released a statement in response, calling Scott's stand on education "pitiful," and saying in part, "teachers and students are smart enough to know that Rick Scott doesn't care about them. He only cares about holding onto power."