2008 Woodie Awards
The First Cut is the Deepest
New budget cuts funding to federal student loans by $12.7 billion.
Kristen Becker
Issue date: 2/15/06 Section: Opinion
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Education has been a top priority in my life since I was a child. When the time came for me to go to college, the grants and student loans I received from the federal government allowed me to continue my education.
President Bush's cuts to federal student loan programs will make the difficult process of finding money for college even harder.
Although the cost of a college education has increased consistently (tuition was raised at least once a year all four years I attended UC Santa Cruz), Congress approved the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
The bill will cut $12.7 billion from federal student loans.
This budget bill includes the largest cuts to student loan programs in history.
According to the College Board, a non-profit association of more than 5,000 schools, colleges and universities, the cost of tuition for a private university rose to $21,235.
Students saw a 5.9 percent increase from the year before. The average tuition at a four-year public university is $5,491. This is a 7.1 percent increase from the previous year. Two-year public colleges saw an increase of 5.4 percent to $2,191.
As higher education becomes more expensive, a larger portion of college students will need financial assistance. The cost of higher education could discourage less affluent students from attending college. As tuition gets more expensive, funding for federal financial aid should be increased not cut.
In his State of the Union speech, President Bush acknowledged that education is an important part of American society. "Our greatest advantage in the world has always been our educated, hard-working ambitious people and we're going to keep that edge." In the same speech, the president said, "This year my budget will cut [the federal deficit] again and reduce or eliminate more than 140 programs that are performing poorly or not fulfilling essential priorities."
By Bush's admission, educated citizens are necessary for American economic success. If that is the case, any program that enables more people to go to college must then be an essential priority.
In the proposed budget for 2007, the president wants to cut the Perkins loan program, which, according to the U.S. Department of Education, provides "a low-interest loan for both undergraduate and graduate students with financial need."
I understand the importance of cutting the federal deficit, but I object to the fact that the lower and middle classes are those who have to make the most sacrifices.
President Bush stated that his goal in reducing funding to such a vital program is to cut the federal deficit, yet in the same budget, he proposes $70 billion in tax cuts. If the president were serious about lowering the deficit, he would understand that sacrifices have to be made by everyone and not only the people who can least afford them.
President Bush's cuts to federal student loan programs will make the difficult process of finding money for college even harder.
Although the cost of a college education has increased consistently (tuition was raised at least once a year all four years I attended UC Santa Cruz), Congress approved the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
The bill will cut $12.7 billion from federal student loans.
This budget bill includes the largest cuts to student loan programs in history.
According to the College Board, a non-profit association of more than 5,000 schools, colleges and universities, the cost of tuition for a private university rose to $21,235.
Students saw a 5.9 percent increase from the year before. The average tuition at a four-year public university is $5,491. This is a 7.1 percent increase from the previous year. Two-year public colleges saw an increase of 5.4 percent to $2,191.
As higher education becomes more expensive, a larger portion of college students will need financial assistance. The cost of higher education could discourage less affluent students from attending college. As tuition gets more expensive, funding for federal financial aid should be increased not cut.
In his State of the Union speech, President Bush acknowledged that education is an important part of American society. "Our greatest advantage in the world has always been our educated, hard-working ambitious people and we're going to keep that edge." In the same speech, the president said, "This year my budget will cut [the federal deficit] again and reduce or eliminate more than 140 programs that are performing poorly or not fulfilling essential priorities."
By Bush's admission, educated citizens are necessary for American economic success. If that is the case, any program that enables more people to go to college must then be an essential priority.
In the proposed budget for 2007, the president wants to cut the Perkins loan program, which, according to the U.S. Department of Education, provides "a low-interest loan for both undergraduate and graduate students with financial need."
I understand the importance of cutting the federal deficit, but I object to the fact that the lower and middle classes are those who have to make the most sacrifices.
President Bush stated that his goal in reducing funding to such a vital program is to cut the federal deficit, yet in the same budget, he proposes $70 billion in tax cuts. If the president were serious about lowering the deficit, he would understand that sacrifices have to be made by everyone and not only the people who can least afford them.
