But in a Rose Garden address last week, the president urged students and
graduates to keep applying pressure on Republican lawmakers to adopt
his own plan and avoid an upcoming rate increase, reports CNN.
Republicans say their plan would tie the student loan rate to economic
factors, and not leave rates up to Congress, a plan Obama agrees with
for the most part.
“Unfortunately, rather than seize this common ground and move the ball
forward, the president resorted to campaign-style tactics, stepped out
into the Rose Garden, and denounced the plan,” Messer said.
The plans differ because of differences between when the two sides say
the interest rates on student loans should lock in. Obama says the rates
should lock in right away, when the money is borrowed, while
Republicans want them to keep rising until the student graduates.
The two sides also differ on maximum rates. The House wants to cap
interest rates at 8.5 percent, while the Obama proposal has no cap, but
includes a program to limit a student's loan paybacks to no more than 10
percent of his or her discretionary income.
Messer said in Saturday's address that he would not have been able to go
to college without scholarships, grants, loans, and odd jobs.
“What makes this country great is that my story is not exceptional,” he
continued. “Every year, millions of American students see their career
dreams begin with the help of federal student financial aid.”
However, he pointed out, in July 1, student loan rates are to double
from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, a move that the House acted to stop in
an attempt to reduce rates and keep politicians out of setting interest
rates.
“Taking the politics out of student loans is a common-sense fix,” he said.
But Democratic senators, he said, "tried to take the easy way out and
maintain the status quo, which will only hurt students in the long run.
Our young people deserve better. Student loan relief is just one example
of the solutions Republicans have put forward to get our economy back
on track.”
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