student loans


Jeff Bryant's picture

Democrats Must Oppose Republicans On Education

A funny thing happened on the way to the news cycle the past two weeks when the issue of education -- specifically, public schoolteachers and student loan relief -- maintained a presence on the political stage. more »

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Richard Eskow's picture

Will a Young Generation's Dreams Be Rescued - Or Bundled and Sold On Wall Street?

Click here to tell Congress: Don't Double Student Loan Interest Rates! more »

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Richard Eskow's picture

Deadbeat Nation: Why the Public Should Cut Off Wall Street's Credit

We've spent billions of dollars - perhaps trillions - to rescue big banks. But instead of dialing back on the risky behavior that shattered the economy in 2008, they're doubling down on it. And when their bill comes due we won't just be asked to pay it again. We'll be asked to take the blame for it again, too. more »

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Jeff Bryant's picture

Get Ready For The Edu-Debt Crisis

This week the US House of Representatives, with bipartisan support, passed a bill, H.R. 2117, with the misleading title of The Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act. more »

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Dave Johnson's picture

Education For We, the People Or For Private Profit?

In his press conference today President Obama said the economic focus is no longer saving the economy from crisis, but "jumpstarting" it to make a dent in unemployment. He listed education as one of the pillars of that effort. Later in the press conference he talked about making colleges and universities being open not just to people who are well-to-do, but to all of us. more »

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Richard Eskow's picture

Backdoor Bailout, Tea Party Fakeout: The GOP's Secret $90 Billion Gift to Wall Street

2010-10-22-BackdoorStudentLoanBailout.JPG

GOP candidates are making a point of running against "bailouts" this year. Yet even as they rail about rescuing big banks, they're working on a plan that would slip those same banks an estimated $90 billion in taxpayer money ... and that's just in the first ten years.

"Fiscal conservatism," anyone?

It was always hypocritical to slam a bailout that they and their party initiated. But it turns out they were just warming up. Now they're trying to pull a fast one on the American public, tapping Tea Party rage about big government spending even as they prepare to slip the big bankers some big bucks. They're planning to siphon off $90 billion meant for America's college students and their families and give it to Wall Street.

Any Tea Partier who votes for these guys is being played for a sucker. more »

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Money-Changers In The Senate

How The Student Loan Industry Enlisted Senators To Fight Reform And Protect Profits

With billions in profits on the line, banks have waged an intensive, multimillion-dollar political and lobbying campaign against changes in the federal student loan program that would end billions in subsidies for the banks. They have enlisted six Democratic senators to raise concerns about the reform effort with Senate leadership. This report documents the extensive ties between the six senators—Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.; Mark Warner, D-Va.; Tom Carper, D-Del.; Ben Nelson, D-Neb.; Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Jim Webb, D-Va.—and major players in the student loan industry. more »


Armand Biroonak's picture

Single-Lender for Student Loans: A Good Thing

Government in many instances can do it better. Student loan reform –that awaits passage through reconciliation –will end tens of billions in wasteful bank subsidies and give much of the savings to students (via Pell Grants). How? more »

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Backgrounder: The Student Aid And Fiscal Responsibility Act

The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act seeks to provide relief to millions of students, parents and workers struggling to obtain a college degree or training for a better job. more »


Armand Biroonak's picture

Students Pinched By Recession

The effects of the recession have been far reaching –that is no secret of course –but the picture for students in this downturn is only beginning to be painted more clearly. According to the Higher Education Research Institute’s annual survey of college freshman, students are really feeling the financial squeeze unlike ever before.

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