TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Charlie Crist continued to veer away from his previous opposition to raising tuition with a proposal this week allowing for increases of up to 15 percent a year at all state universities. But a top Democratic lawmaker said it's the wrong time for that course as people struggle with foreclosures and layoffs.

Crist, a Republican, vetoed a 5 percent tuition increase last year at all universities as students and their families dealt with higher living expenses.

However, "things evolved," Crist said at a news conference Thursday.

He pointed out that later in 2007 he signed a bill allowing three of Florida's largest state universities to increase tutition by up to 15 percent. Earlier this year he signed another bill that added two more schools to that list. His new proposal would would include all 11 universities.

The Legislature currently sets tuition rates, though the proposal would allow university trustees to set the rates with approval from the Board of Governors. The board oversees the state's public universities. not till march

Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, said Crist's proposal would put higher education out of students' reach.

"Florida ranks among the highest for foreclosures, job loss and bankruptcies," the Tallahassee lawmaker said in a press release. "Dumping tuition hikes into the laps of students and their families is the wrong move at the wrong time."

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However, several leaders of the GOP-controlled Legislature and university officials praised the plan as a way to raise much-needed revenues.

Senate Majority Leader Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, said he couldn't "think of a more crucial time than now" to strengthen higher education, which he said is a catalyst for economic growth.

If all universities impose the full 15 percent, it would generate $72 million a year, which is $16 million more than the amount already generated at the five schools covered by existing laws, said university system spokesman Bill Edmonds. Thirty percent of that would go to financial aid for students under the plan, with the rest being used to recruit and retain faculty.

"Tuition for a full year of college education in Florida is cheaper than sending a 4-year-old to day care," said University of North Florida president John Delaney, who also is the acting head of the university system. "It's just too cheap."

Florida's tuition and fees are among the nation's lowest, averaging $3,808 a year for full-time, in-state undergraduates. The national average for public universities is $6,585.