SENATE BILL: Rewarding Hard Work College Loan Forgiveness Scheme Bill (law'd)

[bgwah]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Sponsor: Duke

[bgwah]

I'm semi-curious about how fair this would be, given that some public universities are much more rigorous than others, but I doubt there's a very good way to deal with that. And I suppose the students who go to better universities are getting more valuable degrees in a way. 

I still support this, though.

[Bacon King]

I'm semi-curious about how fair this would be, given that some public universities are much more rigorous than others, but I doubt there's a very good way to deal with that. And I suppose the students who go to better universities are getting more valuable degrees in a way. 

I still support this, though.

Note that "publicly-funded universities" isn't just public schools. Virtually every university in the country, public or private, recieves at least some Federal money and would thus be considered "publicly-funded". I'm uncertain if this was the intent here so if it's not someone might want to amend it.

[Napoleon]

I will need some convincing on this and would prefer to tackle the real problem: a sluggish economy with no one to propose bold solutions.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

While Duke is the sponsor, he did so on behalf of the Administration.

I'm happy to shift it to public Universities - but the intent is very clear - how helpful is it, in a sluggish economy, to send students out of Universities with crippling debts from day one?

[Napoleon]

While Duke is the sponsor, he did so on behalf of the Administration.

I'm happy to shift it to public Universities - but the intent is very clear - how helpful is it, in a sluggish economy, to send students out of Universities with crippling debts from day one?

The executive branch could by itself allow for deferred payments through the BSF. That is a step I would take. I'm not sure about just eliminating debt like this. Its setting a bad precedent.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

While Duke is the sponsor, he did so on behalf of the Administration.

I'm happy to shift it to public Universities - but the intent is very clear - how helpful is it, in a sluggish economy, to send students out of Universities with crippling debts from day one?

The executive branch could by itself allow for deferred payments through the BSF. That is a step I would take. I'm not sure about just eliminating debt like this. Its setting a bad precedent.

I'm going to let the Senate work through this, and I'll come in when required. But I will say, I believe the level of debt that students are required to get into just to get a degree is ridiculous and I think we should be trying to do something to reduce that burden.

Also, the Senate might like to consider some kind of greater controls over private loans to students.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Why not instead of trying to "fix a solution to a problem", why not fix the underlying problem. The reason people are taken on so much more debt is because costs are going through the roof at these universities and they have no incentive to bring them under control, in fact the incentive is to do just the opposite.

[bgwah]

Anyone who wants to introduce an amendment, please do so within the next 24 hours, otherwise I will be bringing this to a final vote.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Perhaps I should have been more provocative. But then I feared it wouldn't get quality discussion. However, having none is even worse.

I guess a better avenue to pursue such a fundamental change, need be found.

[bgwah]

I am bringing this to a final vote. Please vote aye, nay, or abstain.


Aye

[Fuzzybigfoot]

Aye

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Aye

[Napoleon]

Nay

[CatoMinor]

Nay

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Nay


I am afraid that, as it is currently written, the bill shouldn't be passed.


The tiered GPA conditionalism is a slight redeeming quality, but without any changes to the underlying problem, I fear this will serve to make the problem worse, not better.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Well, obviously, there are many alternatives - stronger regulation on private loans for college, instituting a minimum income level before people need to re-pay, getting tuition costs under control etc etc... honestly, I think they would be more contentious than this Bill.

In our current economic environment students are graduating with sometimes enormous debts - we aren't talking about future debt, which would be appropriate to aim further reform at. I'm concerned about graduates with few job prospects with debts to repay.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Aye

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Aye

[bgwah]

With 5 ayes, 3 nays, and 2 non-voting abstentions, this has passed. It is now presented to the President for his signature.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]