DEMSWANT HIGHER REPAYMENT ON STUDENT LOANS TO FUND OBAMACARE!

Weekly GOP Address: Senate Dems Must Pass Student Loan Reform

Posted by Mike Ricci | July 6, 2013 | Permalink

This week’s Republican address calls on Senate Democrats to pass bipartisan student loan reform when the upper chamber returns to work next week.  It was Senate Democrats’ failure to act that caused the interest rate on many student loans to increase on July 1 – an outcome Republicans worked for months to avoid.  Delivering the address is the vice chair of the House Republican Conference, Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), who has two kids in college. As always, there are a number of ways you can check out the Weekly Republican Address: ·       Watch the video on YouTube. ·       Listen to the audio on GOP.gov. ·       Read the transcript right here on Speaker.gov. For now, here are some excerpts from early coverage of the address: Associated Press: “GOP presses Democrats for student loan changes” “Congressional Republicans are pushing to overhaul the government's student loan program….  In the weekly Republican radio address Saturday, congresswoman Lynn Jenkins of Kansas is pressing Senate Democrats to act on legislation that ties the rate to the financial markets, similar to a proposal from President Barack Obama.  Jenkins tells students they deserve a more fair approach, one free of politics that allows students to take advantage of lower rates and have more peace of mind.” CNN: “Republicans demand action on student loan interest rates” “Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Kansas, faulted Senate Democrats on Saturday for this week's hike in student loan interest rates and urged the upper chamber to pass legislation that resolves the issue as soon as the holiday recess ends. … The hike hits about seven million new subsidized Stafford loans this year for middle- and low-income students, but does not apply to existing loans.  Republicans, who prefer a more market-based approach, often point out that the White House's proposal falls more in line with their own.  ‘When President Obama proposed letting the markets set interest rates instead, the Republican-led House passed a bill reflecting his plan,’ Jenkins said. “ CBS News: “GOP slams Senate ‘inaction’ on student loan rates” “Jenkins argued that House Republicans and President Obama were on roughly the same page on student interest rates, blaming the gridlock on Senate Democrats. … Jenkins called on the Senate to pass a bill in line with the House bill and the president's proposal when it returns from recess next week, and she urged Mr. Obama to light a fire under Democrats in the upper chamber.” The Hill: “GOP Rep. Jenkins: Democratic inaction caused student loan interest rate hike” “President Obama should urge Senate Democrats to work with Republicans on legislation to reduce the interest rate on college student loans, Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.) the vice chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, said on Saturday.  ‘Republicans made every effort to stop interest rates on some student loans from doubling, as they unnecessarily did on July 1st,’ Jenkins said. … It's time for Obama to step in and urge Senate Democrats to back House Republicans' student rate proposal, Jenkins said.” Topeka Capital-Journal: “Jenkins faults Senate Dems for inaction on student loans" “Kansas 2nd District Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins on Saturday urged Senate Democrats to get behind a Republican-supported measure designed to lower college student loan rates that doubled on July 1.  … ‘Paying for college is difficult enough without all this uncertainty,’ Jenkins said. ‘I have two kids in college, I know how hard it can be.’ … Jenkins also called on the President to be more active in urging Senate Democrats to take action on the student loan rate issue when they return from a holiday break next week.  ‘We will not let up until they agree to do the right thing,’ Jenkins said.”