EDITORIAL:

Sen. Tom Harman is on the right track.

Young adults — and non-traditional college students — are paying too much for textbooks. A recent state report, requested by Harman, showed that textbooks make up 59% of community college students’ expenses.

Publishers of such textbooks often increase the frequency of new editions, preventing students from buying used (and cheaper) books. They also bundle items such as CDs and DVDs in with the textbooks, features that jack up the prices of the textbooks.

We can’t say it any better than 23-year-old OCC student Krystal Acosta: “Textbook prices suck,” she said. “Some books are unnecessarily overpriced. It’s pretty ridiculous. It’d be nice if book companies could cut us some slack.”

Or OCC student Ian Stroup: “The price of books is painful,” he said. “Used books should be cheaper than what they’re offering.”

Enter Harman.

He made the right move in calling for an audit.

Now it’s time to take the next step: legislation. And that’s exactly what he’s pondering.

“I would expect some time that I will introduce some legislation,” he said. “I want to level the playing field for students.”

That’s good news.

College students, and particularly community college students, have a hard time keeping up with expenses as is.

Add the extra burden of overpriced textbooks, and you’re asking for trouble.

After all, a college student’s primary task is not counting the spare cash left in his or her wallet, but pursuing an education.

We’re against high-priced textbooks, as well as the practice of bundling.

And we compliment Harman for his efforts on this important front.