Healthcare and Student Loans get Barreled
Paul C. Kadzielski
Democrats in Congress decided on March 11 to add a student loan package to the existing healthcare bill. This last minute addition to the healthcare bill before it goes to reconciliation is called pork barreling. The new loan package would allow the federal government to lend directly to students, rather than lending to private banks and having those banks lend to students. The student loan package will also increase Pell Grants. This student loan package was one of President Obama’s campaign promises.
- Reconciliation: When a bill needs 51+ votes to be passed. The normal standard is 60+ votes. Reconciliation was used to pass notable bills such as social security.
- Pork Barreling: Adding unrelated extra requirements, bills or laws to an existing bill.
- Pell Grant: Grants given to low-income students to attend college or other secondary education.
- Argument for adding the student package to healthcare: It will allow more students to attend higher education and accumulate less debt while doing so. The government is protecting students from bankers. It also will join two good bills together and help get the healthcare bill passed through reconciliation. According to some estimates, it will save the government $66 billion.
- Argument against adding the student package to healthcare: This is a low blow to Republicans who will now be painted as voting against students if they vote against healthcare. The student package, according to some estimates, may cost $2 billion after the savings.
Additional Reading:
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fpg/index.html
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/13/democrats-dump-student-aid-overhaul-health-care/
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