College Students to Allen: Condemn Republicans for Student Loan Vote

5/09/2012

 Former Senator must stand up for Virginia students

  

After Republicans in the U.S. Senate voted yesterday to block legislation that would prevent federal student loan rates from doubling on July 1st, college students from across Virginia called on former Senator George Allen to stand up for access to higher education and condemn Republicans for playing politics with student loan programs.

 

"The U.S. Senate already has enough Republicans to block progress for students in the name of partisan politics," said Virginia Young Democrats President and William and Mary senior Isaac Sarver. "As he tours the Commonwealth asking Virginians for votes, it's up to George Allen to condemn this Republican filibuster and prove he wouldn't be just another right-wing vote for doubling student loan rates."

 

University of Virginia first year Madeline DuCharme continued, "Virginia students are bogged down this week with finals, papers and finding summer internships, they shouldn't have to worry about Republicans playing political games with their futures. If George Allen wants to be reelected to the U.S. Senate he should stand tall and call Senate Republicans out for standing in the way of the president's efforts to prevent crippling increases in student loan debt."

 

"This is a defining moment for former Senator Allen," added George Mason University sophomore Megan Adamczewski. "He can either stand up for Virginia students and families struggling to pay for college tuition or he can keep quiet while members of his own party create more uncertainty for middle class families and our economy by allowing student loan rates to double on July 1st. Virginia students and families deserve better than a Senator who refuses to stand up to members of his own party when they're putting politics ahead of what's right."

 

Yesterday on a near party-line vote Senate Republicans voted to filibuster a bill that would have frozen federal student loan interest rates, preventing them from doubling from 3.4% to 6.8% on July 1st. Republicans objected to Democratic efforts to close a loophole that allows wealthy individuals to duck federal income taxes.