The Senate is set to consider on Wednesday the Keep Student Loans Affordable Act, in what could be the chamber’s only reaction to the recent doubling of a low student-loan interest rate. We are all for taming college costs. But lawmakers should reject this pathetic non-solution and put their effort instead into finalizing a compromise plan that is well within their reach. The Senate vote is on wh... Read more »
THE PROBLEM: Over the last decade, college costs have skyrocketed. Annual in-state tuition and fees at public four-year universities cost an average of $4,793 in 2001. Today, that price tag is $8,665 – an 81 percent increase. Similar trends can be seen at private institutions and two-year degree programs. Despite the Obama administration’s failed attempts to rein in college costs through new gove... Read more »
When we consider how higher education is changing, most of us probably think about rising tuition. And that’s a fair connection; after all, in-state tuition and fees at public four-year universities have shot up 81 percent in the last decade, and similar trends can be seen at private institutions and two-year degree programs. But tuition increases aren’t the only changes affecting our nation’s hig... Read more »
House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) today joined House Republican leaders and college students on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and called on Senate Democrats to pass a long-term, market-based solution to the student loan interest rate problem. July 1st is behind us now. The interest rates on subsidized Stafford loans doubled. The House passed legislation to keep... Read more »
On Tuesday, July 9 at 10:00 a.m., the House Education and the Workforce Committee, chaired by Rep. John Kline (R-MN), will hold a hearing entitled, “Keeping College Within Reach: Improving Higher Education through Innovation.” The hearing will take place in room 2175 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Over the last decade, college costs have risen dramatically. Annual in-state tuition and fees ... Read more »
If you think the federal student-loan program looks like a bad deal for taxpayers, imagine how it would look with honest accounting. And now you don't need to imagine thanks to a new report that's receiving far too little attention. Turns out that the official "savings" for taxpayers of $184 billion over the next decade really add up to $95 billion in losses. Here's the scam: Lawmakers peddle wha... Read more »
Today rates on new subsidized Stafford loans double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. But it didn’t have to be this way. The Democrat infighting on student loan interest rates has left a lot of people scratching their heads. In April, President Obama urged Congress to pass a long-term, market based solution that would permanently take the threat of a rate hike off the table. One month later the Hou... Read more »
House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) issued the following statement after the Senate adjourned without taking up legislation to address the July 1 student loan interest rate increase: I am stunned Senate Democrats left town without passing any legislation to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling next week. We had a real opportunity for compromise on an... Read more »
In the debate over student loan interest rates, there’s one major thing missing: Senate action. As a new video points out, the House of Representatives is the only chamber that has passed legislation to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling on July 1st: The House Republican plan, which is similar to a proposal put forth by President Obama, ties interest rates to the market and provides... Read more »
During today’s weekly Republican address, House Education and the Workforce Chairman John Kline (R-MN) urged President Obama to demonstrate leadership in the student loan interest rate debate, and encouraged the Senate to take action on the long-term, market-based solution students and families need. “Our students deserve better,” Chairman Kline said. “We’re in this predicament because politicians... Read more »
