As for Perkins, it's not a surprise that he's cutting it, since he is right-wing on economic issues, (in addition to be even to the right of crazy social conservatives like you).
The student loan program will not survive Republican control of Congress - they're ideologically against it. Though of course as well all know it is cleverly constructed to help only middle and upper-middle class kids, while being sorely inadequate for the poor.
Pay no attention to Al, jfern - he hates the Sodom and Ghammora of the Democrat states as much as we naturally hate the breeding grounds of the Religious Party. In spite of his socialism, he's a typical religious intolerant.
