EAST LANSING - While many Michigan State University students were taking advantage of the snow day last week, a few chose to brave the elements and make their way to the James Madison Building on campus for a round table discussion.

The topic: An issue many former college graduates are sick of dealing with and some current students such as Junior Dominique Clemons are starting to dread.

"I have one more year to go and as of right now I have over $60,000 dollars in debt," Clemons said.

He added that with one year left he will be adding another $20,000 to his debt.

He isn't the only one. More than 60 percent of students in Michigan are graduating with debt, an average of which owe around $29,000.

This is what lead Democrats in the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate to introduce a bill on January 28th addressing the issue. State Senator Curtis Hertel Jr. then held a roundtable discussion with the local public to discuss the issue and explain the bill.

Hertel said, "Our 5 year plan is that kids when they graduate can have 5 years of tax credits to help pay back their student loans."

He said it could save the average student around $2,150.

"It could go a huge way to them being a part of the economy and staying in Michigan," he added.

The plan is meant to help keep Michigan graduates in the state as a part of the economy and workforce in order to combat what Senator Hertel calls the "Michigan brain drain".

Senate Bill 57 would only be available for Michigan college graduates who decided to stay in Michigan, an issue both Republicans and Democrats agree is important to the State.

A similar bill moved through the State Senate during the last term, but was stalled at the House, this bill is expected to have a hearing in the next few weeks.