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Subscribe to RSSA legislative squabble over college costs persisted on Tuesday as Vice President Joe Biden criticized the GOP for not being serious about keeping student loan interest rates down while Senate Republicans urged the White House to take up ideas they’ve proposed.
“I hope to the Lord, Congress decides to get serious about it and stops playing – my word – playing games,” Biden said to a group of college presidents in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, warning that without Congressional action, temporarily low student-loan interest rates would rise again on July 1st.
The back-and-forth between the White House and Congressional Republicans over the rate extension was jump-started last week as Republican leaders sent President Obama a letter with options on how to pay for it, like increasing federal employee retirement contributions.
But the president has yet to respond to the letter, which Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who co-signed the letter, decried on the Senate floor today, suggesting that Biden could have reached out to Republicans instead of meeting with the college leaders, with whom he discussed new transparency measures for college financial information.
"That way he'll give these folks some good news to bring back to their campuses, instead of just asking them to be props in this elaborate farce the White House political team cooked up on this issue,” McConnell charged.
Despite the apparent inaction over the letter, Education Secretary Arne Duncan expressed confidence that the low rates would be extended before time ran out.
“We fully anticipate and expect this to be resolved in a good way,” Duncan said, making an appearance at the White House daily briefing, though he added that it wasn’t his job to negotiate from the podium.
During his meeting today Biden did not address the Republicans’ letter or McConnell’s comments, but instead tried to tap into the emotions of families struggling to pay for college. He condemned the “God-awful recession” for eliminating, for many Americans, the option of borrowing against the value of their homes.
“The most helpless feeling in the world as a parent, I think, is looking at your talented, beautiful child and knowing there's not a darn thing you can do to help him get there,” he said.
Biden also praised the college presidents in attendance for committing to provide their schools’ financial information in a single, easy-to-find “shopping sheet” available online.
Beginning in the 2013-2014 school year, 10 institutions, including the State University System of New York and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will consolidate information about the costs of one year of college, financial aid options, including grants and scholarships and estimated monthly payments for federal student loans the student would owe after graduation.
The information will be posted on participating schools’ websites.
Biden said the pledge would “empower students and their families to get back in the driver’s seat when they're choosing a college and how to pay for their education.”
Public posturing over the student-loan interest rates will likely continue this week as President Obama heads to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas Thursday to urge Congress to extend the interest-loan rates.
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No worries students, the GNOP has managed to piss off every voting block in this country with the exception of white males!
It's now your turn to be bent over...
Good to see the ACLU step in to ensure the students at Marquette University had their right to VOTE today!
God forbid the GOP do anything that goes against the Banks making money and poor people getting a deal....Why don't we get the free no interest money from the fed? And why does the government let insurance companies make money off of Medi-caid instead of paying Doctors directly ? Answer the GOP...
I like that trick to post first...I won't post how you did it..But I will use it..
Hey!! Feisty, I'm a white male and they sure as hell pissed me off!!! careful, you almost hurt my feelings!
LOL
Feisty,
Thousands of students didn't get to vote today. Walker's new Voter ID laws that he "waited ten years to do" are taking their evil effect. Many students were seen being turned away from the polls, and it is thought the numbers are high.
Walker's new anti-democratic voting law is AB7 Section 12.
Also, robocalls have been going around WI telling folks that if they signed petitions to oust Walker, then they do not need to vote = FALSE.
Anyone who stops a citizen from voting - anyone of any rank - should be held accountable.
Hmmmm...Typical GOP tricks.....If the people are really on their side why do they resort to these tactics?
Why are less educated more likely to vote Republican? If you are wealthy, but well-educated, you are more likely vote Democratic.
Now you understand why GOP is dragging the feet on this issue.
The Conservatives are intellectually -challenged, why? A vicious circle.
Philly - I know the secret is safe with you! ;o)
Sorry Fuzzy - wasn't my intentions... you know who I'm talking about... the white male cracker vote! lol
And wealthy educated folks vote democratic against their own pocket books and wallets ( considering Obama's proposed tax policy ) because they know it is good for the country....And giving poor people more money to spend will benefit the rich and the corporations anyway because it will trickle up......The taxbreaks for the rich will never trickle down because they don't spend it they horde it....That is what greedy people do....And I call that lazy because instead of watching the markets and picking winning investments during an economic boom they would rather just keep their tax breaks and keep their money than have to go through all of that even if they could realize greater profits in the long run..
I am getting impatient....Will they tell us who won already so we know if justice is alive or gasping on life support until November......And to all of you fascists...I will be very upset if Walker wins.....SO gloat on....if he does....But this is not a game , it is about the people giving consent to be governed or being governed by a dictatorship with the consent of the fearful and the haters...
No one who shows up to vote should be turned away. It is the duty of every election worker to help a voter cast a ballot. I'm not sure how it is done in WI. however, I do know in Fl, they would be provided with a Provisional Ballot which in addition to being a ballot is also a legal document, they have to fill out all their pertinent information show a picture ID then vote. It is captured in a separate locked ballot box, which when returned to the SOE counting center is opened and verified, if valid, counted and the voter is notified either way at which point they will be required to go in and finish the paperwork.
Again no one should be turned away, people will rarely return, due to work or family obligations.
Those who voted against the future of our children and this country's future will soon get what coming to them just like Walker will when he is sitting in jail.
The polls say Wi will vote for President Obama.
Obama 52
Romney 36
BTW: Walker said he had seen the absteene ballots. Really?? Where in the briefcase of his aide like they were the last election?
Unfortunately, I think it's time we turn our backs on our elected officials. It's useless waiting for them to help us with this situation. We're pawns for their games. Something like Student Loan Killer teaches people how to find creative ways of paying off their debt.
The best way to really screw over the lenders is to pay back what you owe as fast as possible. They only make money on you from the interest you pay. The faster you pay off your debts, the less interest they collect on you. Get creative!
carrot top - so what, who cares, and get lost
The 58-41% victory of Republican Governor Walker in Wisconsin was a clear mandate of how angry the public is..., but certainly not anger at the Republicans, lol
Bever in Chicago, just like the 'prediction' that the Walker recall was 'too close to call', I have no doubt the exit poll you posted here is pure bs as well! Better rethink your cut and paste lies a little bit more... eh?
To: Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL who writes.
Hi Beisty the real question here is do you ever bend over?
Isn't it enough that the government guarantees a student can borrow China's money? Now government insists the taxpayer subsidize unmet needs. When this new generation drops dead at age 50 because they are too fat, then who's gonna pay China back?
I liked Clinton when he was in office... And yes, he had a congress that he could work with, so the economy was great when he left office... However, I think president Clinton is showing his age and should step back from the microphone... If he keeps this up he'll destroy it for Hillary in 2016...
It certainly would help the Country if the PRESS WERE DOING ITS JOB, of CUTTING THROUGH THE BS. The Economy situation with Jobs is STRICTLY Republican OBSTRUCTIONISM, but all you hear from the Press is how the President is FAILING, just him, nothing to Do with Republican OBSTRUCTIONISM.
NOW EDUCATION for the Future of our Country is now being HELD HOSTAGE!
The Press should be educating the public on the Fact that the Republican Congress is HOLDING UP JOBS since the Fall, and how the House of Entrenched Repulican/ Tea Partiers are willing to LET THE COUNTRY SLIDE OFF OF AN Economic Cliff in order to HOLD THE DEBT CEILING HOSTAGE against President Obama. Can Congress get any more DESTRUCTIVE WITH A WEAK ECONOMY?
Educate the people on the fact that the 60-vote rule in the Senate gives the Republican Minority UNCONTROLLED DESTRUCTION of the Economy as long as one Republican Senator can FILIBUSTER AND STOP ANY BILL FROM GETTING A VOTE or passing.
A Democratic Congress worked with Reagan, even Bush. The Press has been lost every since the Bush Years..
They are afraid to question Romney's TOTAL LIES about the President on his Stump speeches for fear of being IGNORED by THE Romney Campaign. This is the man who wants to be President and the Press cannot not VET HIM FOR THE PUBLIC on his UNTRUTHS and re-inventing the PERSONA of the President?
Press YOU HAVE TRANSVAGINALED President Obama, and you are SCARED to put a Stethoscope up to Romney's HEART.
The Press have "lost its GUTS! So what are we have is nothing but a POLARIZED ELECTORATE, when the Press fails at it job of CUTTING THROUGH THE DIS-INFORMATION and that it is the U. S. Congress who is truly doing the most DAMAGE TO THE ECONOMY.
What is really TROUBLING is the Republicans, including Romney blaming all of this with the Help of the Press, that it is President Obama who is doing nothing. President Obama's biggest mistake is thinking that this Still White Bastion of Power was going to let a Black Man come in and do something with the Country and Work with them.
Hussein Obummer has no guts! He is a total PUSSY!!! He never fought Walker in WI., and he never put the Fascist Rethuglicans in their place. Where are the Dunne Bros., Farrell Dobbs, and Floyd B. Olson when we really need them? Looks like fascism is on the way.
Feisty,
Thousands of students didn't get to vote today in the WI election c/o Walker's new Voter ID laws that he "waited ten years to do". Time period needed to vote has been increased, plus the fact student's just went home for vacation...it is tricky stuff.
Many were seen being turned away from the polls, and it is thought the numbers are high.
The new voting finaigle via Walker is AB7 Section 12.
Robocalls have been going around Wi telling folks that if they signed petitions to oust Walker, then they do not need to vote...FALSE.
If you signed the Petition, you still need to Vote. Don't listen to these Crooks.
YUK!
Vote Walker OUT!!
.
This hot off the presses. The DNC finally set their convention agenda... I'm sure all the liberals will appreciate this so they know what events to attend.
Democratic National Convention Agenda - Day 1 - 2
4:00 PM Opening Flag Burning Ceremony
4:05 PM Singing of "God Damn America" led by Rev. Jeremiah Wright
4:10 PM Pledge of Allegiance to Obama
4:14 PM Reading the 6 Commandments Led By Chas Schummer
4:15 PM Ceremonial 'I hate America' led by Michelle Obama
4:30 PM Tips on Dodging Sniper Fire , Hillary Clinton
4:45 PM Al Sharpton Leads Castrati Choir in Singing "Great Balls of Fire"
4:49 PM Fund Raising John Edwards
5:00 PM UFO Abduction Survival , Joe Biden
5:30 PM Eliot Spitzer Speaks on "Family Values" via Satellite
5:45 PM Tribute to All 57 States "Occupier Choir"
5:50 PM How I Invented The Interenet and Global Warming A. Gore
6:00 PM Joe Biden Delivers 100,000-Word Speech Featuring
23-Minute Question and 2-Hour Answer
8:30 PM Airing of Social Grievances by the Clintons
9:00 PM Bill Clinton Delivers Rousing Endorsement of Obama Girl
9:05 PM Real Estate Tips Barney Frank
9:15 PM Tribute Film to Freedom Fighters at Gitmo - Michael Moore
9:45 PM Personal Finance Seminar - Charlie Rangle
10:00 PM Denunciation of The N.R.A.. Barbara Boxer
10:15 PM Fund Raising Tips George Clooney
10:30 PM Ceremonial Waving of White Flag for Iraq & Afghanistan
11:00 PM Obama Energy Plan Symposium and tiregauge Demonstration
11:15 PM Free Gov. Blagoyovitch rally
11:20 PM How I Killed Bin Laden - B. H. Obama
11:30 PM Obama Accepts Tony and Latin Grammy Awards
11:45 PM Feeding of the Delegates with 5 Loaves and 2 Fish , Obama Presiding
12:00 AM Official Nomination of Obama by Bill Mahre
12:01 AM Obama Accepts Nomination as Lord and Savior
12:05 AM Celestial Choirs Sing
3:00 AM Biden Delivers Acceptance Speech and proposes elimination of term limits for Office of President
==================================
OPTION: Closing with a Declaration of War on the rich
To be decided just following 10:15 PM Fund Raising Tips by George Clooney
Funny about the term limit thing is, it would only work in favor of Democrats...There has never been a Right-Wing president that anyone was interested in electing twice let alone multiple times.....BTW Reagan was a moderate in the middle not a TEAPUBLICAN.....Todays backward thinking party would never nominate him...Heck he couldn't even get as many votes as Gingrich..
omg Brian, LMAO, I think you should post this again on the entertainment section lol.
And the Republican version would be..................
I pledge allegiance to my Koch's.............
Now I've got to do the whole bit.
I hope I'm done in time for Tampa!
By the way the company I work for asked for people to go over and work setting up for the RNC. 160 workers and only 8 volunteers.
Brianb - You forgot Michelle Obama reading of her poem "All this for a damn flag" during the burning
Brianb...find a job yet?
I'm pretty sure that somewhere in Brian's schedule will be a liberal 'cow pie' eating contest.... for all those former supporters of private sector collective bargaining agreements!
And how about that Wisconsin vote? You libs are going to be crying in your Cheerios in the morning.
No student loan bailouts.
Defeat Socialism, oust Obama this November.
It's not the interest rate that needs to be changed, its the amount they make available to students. When I applied for a student loan, I knew it was because of my financial limitations, so I started off with a Junior college and then transferred credits, in an attempt to minimize the amount I borrowed. But when people who can't afford college are treating these loans as a free handout and borrowing $75,000 to go to the most expensive colleges in the nation, and then balking at repaying that loan, THAT'S where the abuse is, and why the Federal Government is having difficulties with getting the loans paid back.
I have two kids in college and understand where you are coming from. The problem with colleges and their tuition is that they are not held accountable. Part of the problem is the federal and state governments. What happens if the colleges raise their tuition? The state and federal government gives them more money. They keep raising tuitions, the government gives them more.
Economist John B. Taylor of the Hoover Institution summed it up aptly: "Unpredictable economic policy -- massive fiscal 'stimulus' and ballooning debt, the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing with multiyear near-zero interest rates, and regulatory uncertainty due to Obamacare and the Dodd-Frank financial reforms -- is the main cause of persistent high unemployment and our feeble recovery."
As long as Bill the Thrill has got a microphone in his face Obama is in for a long five months.
Wake up america . Can't people see what big money and republicans are up to ? One thing is that if you look at all the bills that they are trying to pass ,every one of them attacks the middle class. And you STUPID TEA PARTY people , I.E. ,extreme republicans. better stop and look in the mirror, because I bet that at least 90% of you are MIDDLE CLASS . IDIOTS ,wake up . These super pacs are using you to advance the wealthiest sector of this country's total dominance of the people in this country. The republicans idea is to strip people of their constitutional rights a little at a time . People in wis. it will be interesting to see what you think of walker in two years . But by then it will be to late for you. You reap what you sow. We need to get more moderates elected to office from both party's
Schools keep raising tuitions knowing that the government will KEEP FUNDING them. So now, the schools pocket the gov. funded money and the gov. gets paid back WITH interest and the students are stuck with a massive loan dept and NO job.
Again, I say that the Pro-Obama bloggers are given advanced notice - especially Feisty - that way - they can all get in there and give her thumbs up so the community can't wipe out her nasty comments which happens to everything she posts after the first one which becomes locked in - UNFAIR BUT WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THE INSECURE LIBERAL MEDIA
Obama - the anything for a vote --- the Klondike President ---- white covered with black ......