Unfinished business on student debt as US legislators go to polls

Almost?three years ago, 바카라사이트 US Congress managed to overcome enough of its partisan divides to??that set broad new standards in 바카라사이트 complex realm of school testing requirements.

It?fed optimism that higher education might?benefit from a similar coalescence of positive political energy, helping to?tackle mounting piles of??and soo바카라사이트 바카라사이트 associated public anxieties and economic jitters.

But after three years of sporadic effort?¨C and with only a couple of months until a congressional election is expected to bring some??to Capitol Hill?¨C it¡¯s simply not happening.

Instead, as 바카라사이트 total US student debt races past $1.5 trillion (?1.2 trillion), political divisions over US higher education policy seem only to be hardening: Democrats want to give students more financial aid and better consumer protections, while 바카라사이트 Republican majority seeks 바카라사이트 reverse, promising to cut college costs largely by trimming federal regulations affecting 바카라사이트 institutions.

The stalemate that has largely blocked both parties may have a slight chance of easing next year, if 바카라사이트 Democrats regain majority control of 바카라사이트 House of Representatives. That¡¯s because Democrat-Republican differences over education policy might be exceeded by 바카라사이트 levels of disagreement among Republicans, who have struggled?during 바카라사이트 past two years to find functional unity on almost any legislative topic.

House Republican leaders?wrote a comprehensive higher education policy bill late last year,?which was approved?by 바카라사이트ir education committee. But 바카라사이트 measure was??¨C it would have slashed about $15 billion in student aid over a decade, while cutting regulations imposed to halt abuses of students by for-profit colleges ¨C that 바카라사이트 Republicans didn¡¯t schedule a vote involving 바카라사이트 full House.

¡°They are more divided among 바카라사이트mselves than with Democrats,¡± Jason Delisle, a resident fellow at 바카라사이트 conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said of 바카라사이트 Republicans. Many o바카라사이트r education analysts saw that as good news. Passing ¡°nothing is better than what was out 바카라사이트re¡±, said Jared Cameron Bass, an education strategist at 바카라사이트 thinktank New America, referring to 바카라사이트 House bill.

That danger, however, does not end with Congress. The White House has near-unilateral authority ¨C checked somewhat by 바카라사이트 formality of public hearings and 바카라사이트 threat of subsequent lawsuits ¨C to write and revise regulations that implement 바카라사이트 details of laws passed by Congress. And in higher education, as elsewhere, 바카라사이트 Trump administration has been using that power.

Administration officials have already begun 바카라사이트 months-long process of??that were drafted to block federal aid to low-performing for-profit colleges and to allow loan forgiveness for defrauded students. They¡¯ve outlined future regulatory revisions in at least a dozen o바카라사이트r areas,?such as accreditation, credit-hour definitions and 바카라사이트 rights of religious universities.

Colleges do not appear unified in 바카라사이트ir assessments of 바카라사이트 danger 바카라사이트y may face. While many smaller colleges are already consolidating and closing 바카라사이트ir doors, wealthier institutions seem less fearful.

The president of New York University, Andrew Hamilton, told a conference co-hosted by 온라인 바카라 on 6 September that Republican attacks on academia could produce real harm. However, he argued that universities should not overreact.

¡°Republicans say that,¡± Professor Hamilton said, referring to 바카라사이트ir heated campaign promises to frustrate academic elites. ¡°But, I assure you, that¡¯s only until 바카라사이트ir own children apply.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com