"The House and Senate have both passed versions of a bill that would increase federal grants for students and crack down on problems in the college loan industry," The Christian Science Monitor reports. "But there's a sticking point: The House insists that states maintain consistent funding for public colleges and universities. Governors and state legislators have cried foul, saying the feds don't have the right to dictate such matters. With an economic downturn threatening state budgets - and concern that higher education is out of reach for a growing number of students - the controversy puts a spotlight on the relationship between state funding and public-college affordability."