KSU Student Stumps Bush.......

Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Student Stumps Bush With Education Policy Question
Here’s student Tiffany Cooper playing “Stump the President.”

Q: Hi, I just want to get your comments about education. Recently, $12.7 billion was cut from education, and I was just wondering how that's supposed to help our futures? (Applause.)

Bush: Education budget was cut -- say it again. What was cut?

Q: Twelve point seven billion dollars was cut from education, and I was just wondering how is that supposed to help our --

Bush: At the federal level?

Q: Yes.

Bush: I don't think that -- I don't think we've actually -- for higher education? Student loans?

Q: Yes, student loans.

Here is the source for this quote

Originally posted by EastCoastKid
Bush actually believes people will believe his BS by virtue of him being the president. But then again, he sure does act like a deer in the headlights a lot.

As much as I disliked Clinton, at least he had knowledge on a wide array of issues and could discuss his own positions on them. Bush just always gets blindsided out of total lack of curiosity and acquisition of knowledge. Don't bug him, man, he's clearin' brush like a real man.

Originally posted by EastCoastKid
He has no idea what to say, otherwise.

Originally posted by BlueTriangle
Bush was the victim of a vague question here. When he asked her whether she was referring to the "federal level" or what, this affirmed it. She was very non-specific in her question. As always, there are degrees of truth to both her accusation and his answer, check out the links below for specific info.

Student loans cut by $12.7B

As one of its first legislative acts of the new year, Congress passed a resolution to slow the growth of federal spending.

It aims to do so in part through the reconciliation bill, which will cut government-backed student-loan programs by $12.7 billion.

At the same time, however, new student grant programs will be created.


Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

external source
Though $21 billion was initially cut from the loan programs, $8 billion was then designated to be reinvested in financial aid.

The remaining money from the cut will be used to directly lower taxes and finance the federal deficit.

“We would prefer to see as much of the proposed cuts reinvested in other student aid programs,” said Melissa Vetterkind, Duke’s assistant director for federal relations. “In the end, students are going to end up paying more for their student loans over the entire length of the loan.”

external source

The reconciliation bill also affects private lenders who provide student loans. The bill will require the lenders to give the money they receive from student interest rates back to the government, potentially eliminating a source of lenders’ profits.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see some lenders leave the market as a result,” Belvin said.

Bush was the victim of a vague question here.

Originally posted by BlueTriangle
Experts unsure of loan cut's impact

"Actually, students come out ahead in some ways on this," said Steve Brooks, director of the State Education Assistance Authority.

He pointed to an increase in loan limits as one plus of the bill, raising the limit for freshman from $2,625 to $3,500 and $3,500 to $4,500 for sophomores.

"I'm glad to see loan limits increase," Brooks said. "I wish they could go higher."

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

external source

Although the increases may provide more funding for cash-strapped college hopefuls with no other way to pay, Julie Mallette, director of the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, said there is a down side.

"We see very little reluctance in terms of borrowing," Mallette said. "Students will borrow whatever is put in front of them."

And the result seems to be putting students further and further into the red after graduation.


Please visit the link provided for the complete story.