Allen's 'no comment' on student loans is a new low
Allen's 'no comment' on student loans is a new low
Richmond, VA - A cornerstone of former Senator George Allen's reelection campaign has been his unwillingness to take a position on key issue after key issue. From Bob McDonnell's forced ultrasound legislation to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, Allen and his campaign go out of their way to hide his views from Virginians who may want to know his stances before casting their votes.
Allen's near-pathological aversion to straight talk hit a new low during last Saturday's Republican/Tea Party debate in Roanoke. As each of his right-wing opponents promised to turn their backs on students who benefit from federal academic loan programs, WSLS reports that Allen refused to stand up for student loans and then dodged the question again the next day:
"George Allen was quiet on the issue saying only he wants to freeze tuition costs and make college more affordable.
"When contacted on Tuesday Allen's staff didn't provide any more details about the former senator's stance."
WSLS went on the underscore the importance of these programs saying:
"[WSLS News] checked with Virginia Western Community College and found out that 63 percent of its students use federal loans.
Whether or not George Allen supports student loan programs that make college affordable for American students his record tells the story of a former Senator who has voted for the largest cuts to student loans in history and even went as far as to vote to tax student loan payments. Virginians deserve more than a Senator who can't be bothered to speak out against Tea Party nonsense that would kill opportunities for students to learn, train and compete in a global economy.
Background:
AP: "The Student Loan Program Would Endure The Largest Cut In Its History." The AP reported, "As Congress moves to slash $40 billion in spending, no program will take a bigger hit than college loans, where almost $13 billion would be cut over five years. . . . [O]verall, the student loan program would endure the largest cut in its history, and most of the money would not be pumped back into education." [AP, 12/19/05]
2005: Allen Voted Against Extending Expiring Tuition Tax Credit. In November 2005, Allen voted against a $58 billion tax cut package that would have extended expiring tax cuts, including the college tuition deduction. "For those who say they care about fiscal responsibility, for those who say they are concerned about the explosion of deficits and debt, here is a chance to prove it," Senator Kent Conrad said of his tax plan. "Here is a chance to vote for this amendment that will extend the tax provisions that are expiring this year for next year's taxes, and to pay for it by closing abusive tax shelters." The motion was rejected by a vote of 44-55, with 2 Republicans, 41 Democrats and 1 Independent voting in favor. [Vote 330, 11/17/05, CQ Floor Votes; Conrad Press Release, 11/17/05]
2003: Allen Favored Cutting Off Pell Grant Eligibility For 84,000 Lower-Income Students. Allen, on September 10, 2003, voted against an amendment to prohibit the Education Department from changing the way it determines student aid eligibility for Pell Grants. The change that the department intended to implement would have caused 84,000 college students to lose their eligibility for Pell Grants for the 2004-05 school year. The amendment would prohibit funds in the bill from being used to implement recent Department of Education changes to financial aid eligibility formulas. According to CQ.com, the amendment would also "provide $137.6 billion in discretionary spending in fiscal 2004 for the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education departments and related agencies." The amendment was adopted by a vote of 51-44, with 6 Republicans, 44 Democrats and 1 Independent voting in favor. [Vote 339, 9/10/03; CQ Floor Votes, Congressional Quarterly Today, 9/10/03]
·Budget Officials At Education Department Estimated 84,000 Students Would Have Lost Their Pell Grant Eligibility If Senate Amendment Had Not Passed. The Chronicle of Higher Education reported, "[L]awmakers also approved an amendment that prohibits the Bush administration from changing the formula the federal government uses to calculate a student's need for financial aid. Budget officials at the Education Department have estimated that 84,000 students would lose their eligibility for Pell Grants in the 2004-5 academic year if the change, announced in May, went into effect." [The Chronicle of Higher Education, 9/19/03]
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