Contrary to Republican goals of doing nothing, Democrats in Congress are moving forward addressing the nation’s problems without Republicans. As part of the recently passed Health Care Reform Legislation, Democrats added a rider to also reform the student-loan program. This is a major reform that will lower the interest rate college students pay, extend their repayment time and save $67 billion according to an column by Froma Harrop in the Seattle Times entitled “Student-loan companies don’t need welfare”
As Harrop notes, “…when corporations get taxpayer handouts, that’s not welfare in the GOP book of rhetoric. Take away a company’s subsidy, and you have a “government takeover”. Such is the Republican stance on Democratic plans to remove the corporate middleman from the federal student-loan program, included in the recently passed House health care reform bill”
President Obama’s weeekly address on March 27, 2010 addressed the student loan issue. The White House press release notes that “These reforms save the taxpayers $68 billion over the next decade by ending the subsidies given to banks and middlemen who handle student loans. The money saved will help expand and strengthen the federal Pell Grant program. The reforms will also cap college graduates’ annual student loan repayments at 10% of their income, revitalize community colleges, and increase support for Minority Serving Institutions.
You can read his full comments by clicking on the link above, hear audio or watch video.
The Democrats are acting to address our nation’s future. The Republican’s are gungho to go back to our past. They are continuing to try to obstruct Congress and the President from passing needed legislation.
If the public has any reason to be upset at Congress, it is because of the Republican Party of No has made a concerted coordinated effort to prevent Congress from moving forward and addressing our nations critical concerns in a constructive and meaningful way. It’s time to boot the obstructionist Republicans out of office.
Democrats need to re-engage in the political process and work to turn our voters out in the coming elections. It’s not enough to just about bemoan and complain about the Republicans negative and obstructionist tactics and point fingers.
No one ever said change would be easy. The big mistake many of those wanting change made was assuming that electing Obama was the end of their need to stay engaged. It’s time to re-energize and get back to work.
