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ASBSU voices opposition to financial aid cuts
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The U.S. Congress is considering cutting federal student aid this week, and the Associated Students of Boise State University Senate is voicing opposition. On Tuesday, the ASBSU Senate passed a resolution encouraging Idaho congressmen to vote against a federal bill that could slice $9 billion from subsidized student loans programs, the largest cut in history.
The federal bill, The College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005, could be voted on today in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The ASBSU resolution, sponsored by Sen. Brandon Stoker, went through first reading, skipped second reading and was passed 12-2 in third reading on Tuesday. The resolution was on the “fast track” because the timeliness of the bill in the U.S. Congress.
Legislation is put on fast track when timing is important. The process allows a bill to go through the legislative process in the course of one meeting.
The resolution states that ASBSU encourages the Congressional delegation – Idaho Congressmen Larry Craig, Mike Crapo, C.L. “Butch” Otter and Mike Simpson – to “vote against legislation that will make higher education more expensive and less affordable for all Idahoans.”
Stoker said the bill could negatively affect many Idaho students, who tend to be more dependent on financial aid than students in other states.
In the ASBSU resolution, Stoker cited statistics that the average Idaho student borrows more than $3,000 annually for higher education, which is about 14 percent higher than the national
average of $2,619. Stoker encouraged ASBSU senators to stand up for federal aid, because so many students depend on assistance to complete their education.
“I love our state, but we’re not doing too well in education,” Stoker said.
Blair Anundson, who works with the Student Public Interest Research Group, said students are already being affected by cuts in federal aid. Tuition is rising on most campuses, yet the aid is remaining stagnant or decreasing.
“A college education is becoming harder and harder to finance,” Anundson said.
In the resolution, Stoker cites statistics that nearly two-thirds of all college students use student loans. Anundson said if federal aid is cut, it will take students longer to pay off their loans - possibly as many as 20 to 30 years. He added that graduating students might not be able to work in the field they want after college, but take a higher-paying job in a less-desirable field. Stoker said student loan debt, which is an average of nearly $20,000, limits career choices and limits major milestones such as getting married or purchasing a home. Stoker said he wants Idaho Congressmen to understand the personal consequences of debt. The resolution states “Congress should be making higher education more affordable rather than more expensive.”
Anundson said he is unsure whether The College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005 will pass, but said if it does, he doesn’t expect it will pass with an overwhelming majority.
“There’s a lot of Republicans against it, and more are getting on board everyday,” Anundson said. “The majority of Democrats are against it already.”
Anundson also encouraged all students to call their Congress representative and encourage them to vote against the bill.
The ASBSU Senate also addressed the bill to President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, BSU President Robert Kustra and numerous media contacts.
Tessa Schweigert / Asst. News Editor
