[Vision2020] Act Will Make College Costs More Manageable

[Tom Hansen]

>From today's (August 1, 2008) Moscow-Pullman Daily News -

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OUR VIEW: Act will make college costs more manageable 
By Murf Raquet, for the editorial board
August 1, 2008

Legislation passed by the U.S. House on Thursday could benefit students 
throughout the country by eliminating some of the burdensome debt they'll 
have at graduation.

That's a move we can applaud, especially with more than 25,000 students 
enrolled at Palouse universities.

The so-called Higher Education Opportunity Act is the first major overhaul 
of federal education programs in 10 years, and it is long overdue.

The act strengthens recent legislation that cut interest rates on student 
loans. 

The act also makes Pell Grants available to low-income students year-round 
instead of just the fall and spring semesters. This will allow students to 
take better advantage of the summer session and finish their education a 
little faster.

Students and their parents also will see more information of college fees 
and textbook costs. Those expenses add up fast and it will be easier to 
plan a budget if it is clear from the start the exact nature of the costs.

"To address soaring costs this legislation will address the transparency 
and the accountability of the tuition pricing system, shining a bright 
light on the prices set by colleges and universities," said Education 
Committee Chairman George Miller, D-Calif.

We hope it does.

College students often take more than four years to complete their course 
work for whatever reason. When they leave school many are saddled with 
student loan payments that are the equivalent of paying a second rent.

With better information at their fingertips and grant money available when 
they need it, a greater number of students potentially will be able to 
contribute sooner. The purpose of a college education is to become a 
productive member of society by contributing to a community's economy, not 
underwriting the lending industry. 

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Ah, yes . . .

HR 4137 - College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008 (To amend and 
extend the Higher Education Act of 1965)

The final vote:

Ayes - 380
Nays - 49
No Vote - 5

Idaho's Rep. Bill Sali voted against this bill.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes.xpd?person=412201

I'm guessing that we can count on Murf Racquet to campaign against Bill 
Sali.  

Bill Sali loves Idaho.  It's the people of Idaho he does not care to 
support.

Keep Idaho healthy, green, and affordable.  Vote "NO" on Sali in November.

Seeya at Farmers' Market, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
 
"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college 
students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."

- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)


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