Yesterday, Hillary Clinton unveiled her New College Compact—a proposal to confront the nation’s college affordability crisis. More than $1.2 trillion in outstanding student loan debt has slashed economic opportunity for a generation of Americans—limiting new homeownership, consumer spending and the ability to start a family. Clinton’s plan tackles the college affordability challenge at both ends by curbing the explosive rise in higher education costs and by easing the burden of student debt repayment.
Unsurprisingly, Republicans have already launched intellectually dishonest broadside attacks against the New College Compact. Maybe they hope to distract from their own horrific records on the issue of college affordability. From slashing aid to public universities to opposing student loan refinancing and forgiveness programs, the Republicans running for president have done nothing to tackle the crisis in college affordability. In fact, they’re part of the reason it’s a crisis in the first place.
Jeb Bush
Bush referred to debt-free college as “more free stuff.” “Jeb Bush, a Republican contender, told NH1 News that such a [debt-free college] plan was akin to just wiping ‘the 1.2 trillion dollars of debt without reforming our higher education system — more free stuff.’” [NYT, 7/8/15]
As Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush oversaw a tuition increase of almost 60 percent. “We asked the Board of Governors for the systemwide tuition rates for the time frame we’re looking at, to see what the actual rate of tuition increases were. They are reported by credit hour, but the rate of change is still easy to calculate: 1998-99: $46.99 per credit hour… 2006-07: $73.71 per credit hour…Percent change: 56.9 percent… Source: Board of Governors… So Bush oversaw a tuition increase of almost 60 percent.” [PolitiFact, 6/30/15]
….While proposing to fund universities with what the St. Petersburg Times called “pocket change.”“Florida will collect an additional $4-billion in its wallet next year, but Gov. Jeb Bush wants to hand universities what amounts to pocket change. His proposed 2005-06 budget covers only a fourth of what his own Board of Governors says is necessary merely to keep pace with new students… The increase he proposes in overall university spending, $119-million, is less than half the amount of recurring money he proposes to eliminate from the budget through tax cuts. Tuitions can be increased as the governor suggests, but higher education can’t maintain quality without a state willing to invest in it.” [St. Petersburg Times, 1/25/05]
Marco Rubio
Student Loans
Marco Rubio opposed the debt forgiveness provision of Pres. Obama’s student loan reform plan. “Appearing on William Bennett’s radio show on Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., continued his opposition to President Barack Obama’s efforts to reform student loan repayments […] ‘The concept that we would somehow want to measure the repayment options that people have before them to how much they make, is not necessarily a bad one,’ Rubio said. ‘And in fact, I’m working on a solution to do that in a responsible way. The problem with what the president has done, beyond the fact that it’s through executive action, is the forgiveness aspects of it. You know, after 20 years – 10 years if you’re in the public sector, 20 years if not – the whole loan is forgiven, and in my mind it creates the potential for more of this to occur in the future.” [Sunshine State News, 6/11/14]
Marco Rubio voted against allowing student loan borrowers to refinance at 2013-2014 student loan rates – 3.9 percent for undergraduates – paid for by requiring millionaires to pay a tax rate of at least 30 percent. In March 2015, Rubio effectively voted against an amendment to the Senate’s FY 2016 budget resolution that, according to Congressional Quarterly, would have “increase[d] new budget authority and outlays during that period by $64.4 billion, and reduce[d] deficit figures over those fiscal years by $8 billion. The changes are intended to reflect future legislation that would allow student loan borrowers to refinance outstanding debt at 2013-14 interest rates, which would be offset by requiring millionaires to pay a federal tax rate of at least a 30 percent.” The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 46 to 53. [Senate Vote 86, 3/25/15; Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/15; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 11]
Marco Rubio voted against capping future federal student loan interest rates, paid for with a millionaires tax. In July 2013, Rubio voted against an amendment that, according to Congressional Quarterly, “would [have] lower[ed] interest rate caps from 8.25 percent to 6.8 percent for federal undergraduate student loans, from 9.5 percent to 6.8 percent for graduate loans and from 10.5 percent to 7.9 percent for PLUS loans. The cost of the reduced rates would [have] be[en] paid for by a 0.55 percent tax on individuals whose income exceeds $1 million or $500,000 if it is a married individual filing a separate tax return.” The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 46 to 53. [Senate Vote 183, 7/24/13; Congressional Quarterly, 7/24/13]
Marco Rubio voted for increasing student loan interest rates from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent as part of the FY 2014 Ryan budget. In March 2013, Rubio voted for increasing student loan interest rates from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, as part of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2014 to 2023. According to Education Votes, “[T]he Ryan plan […] would allow student loan interest rates on new Stafford loans to double this July, from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent.” The vote was on the House Republicans’ fiscal year 2014 budget resolution, which Senate Budget Committee chairwoman Patty Murray offered as a substitute amendment to the Senate’s fiscal year 2014 budget resolution. The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 40 to 59. [Senate Vote 46, 3/21/13; Education Votes, 3/20/13]
Pell Grants
Marco Rubio voted against restoring $89 billion in proposed cuts to Pell Grants included in Senate Republicans’ FY 2016 Budget resolution. In March 2015, Rubio voted against an amendment to the Senate’s FY 2016 budget resolution that, according to Congressional Quarterly would have “adjust[ed] the resolution to increase new budget authority for social services’ education, training and employment by $92.3 billion and increase outlays in that area by $89.3 billion between fiscal years 2016 and 2025. The changes are intended to reflect future legislation that would restore $89 billion in federal Pell grant reductions.” The amendment was rejected by a vote of 46 to 54. [Senate Vote 101, 3/26/15; Congressional Quarterly, 3/26/15; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 11]
Donald Trump
Trump University
Donald Trump entered the presidential race under the specter of three lawsuits over Trump University. “Presidential candidate Donald Trump wants to ‘Make America Great Again!’ Before he can do that, he has to answer to allegations that his now-defunct Trump University was a scam. Trump is involved in two lawsuits brought by former students and one by the New York Attorney General. The Donald is expected to be questioned under oath next month in a class action lawsuit brought by Art Cohen, who spent more than $36,000 on the Trump programs. Cohen’s suit alleges that Trump University failed to deliver on its promises to provide a premier education.” [CNN Money, 7/24/15]
Donald Trump’s Trump University was sued by the state of New York for $40 million for engaging in “deception at every stage of consumers’ advancement through costly programs.” “New York’s attorney general sued Donald Trump for $40 million Saturday, saying the real estate mogul helped run a phony ‘Trump University’ that promised to make students rich but instead steered them into expensive and mostly useless seminars, and even failed to deliver promised apprenticeships. Trump shot back that the Democrat’s lawsuit is false and politically motivated. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says many of the 5,000 students who paid up to $35,000 thought they would at least meet Trump but instead all they got was their picture taken in front of a life-size picture of ‘The Apprentice’ TV star. ‘Trump University engaged in deception at every stage of consumers’ advancement through costly programs and caused real financial harm,’ Schneiderman said. ‘Trump University, with Donald Trump’s knowledge and participation, relied on Trump’s name recognition and celebrity status to take advantage of consumers who believed in the Trump brand.’” [Associated Press, 8/24/13]
- Donald Trump was found “personally liable for running an unlicensed school.” “And in a suit brought by the State of New York, a trial court found Trump was personally liable for running an unlicensed school and must pay restitution to approximately 800 consumers nationwide who took courses after May 31, 2010 from the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative (formerly known as Trump University).” [CNN Money, 7/24/15]
Scott Walker
Student Loans
Scott Walker’s 2015-2017 budget eliminated student loan forgiveness programs for health care providers working in underserved communities. “The budget also deletes two loan assistance programs — one specifically for physicians, and another for physicians, dentists and other health care providers. Through that program, practitioners who agree to work in an under-served community for at least three years are eligible to have some of their student loans repaid. About 70 practitioners are currently working under such contracts, said John Eich, director of the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health. ‘Those contracts will become null and void,’ he said.” [Capital Times, 3/18/15]
Scott Walker “chose not to endorse any Wisconsin student loan refinancing bills put forth in 2014.” “Perhaps most tellingly, Walker chose not to endorse any Wisconsin student loan refinancing bills put forth in 2014. His Democratic opponent in that year’s gubernatorial race, Mary Burke, ran on a platform of higher education reform which included the establishment of an authority on student loan refinancing and a move to make student loan taxes deductible. Walker’s allegiances and priorities aligned more closely with cuts to the education system than relief for the state’s 1 million graduates with student loans.” [Huffington Post, 4/16/15]
Scott Walker allowed a bill that would let borrowers refinance their student loans “to die without a vote.” “Governor Scott Walker has responded to this crisis with devastating indifference. A bill introduced by Representative Cory Mason (D-Racine) and Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) would have given some relief to Wisconsin families drowning in student loan debt. The Higher Ed, Lower Debt bill would have allowed borrowers to refinance their student loans just like mortgages or auto loans and allowed borrowers to deduct their student loan payments from their taxes. These common sense reforms fell on deaf ears in the Republican legislature and the Governor’s office. Despite the support of 54 legislators, Scott Walker allowed the bill to die without a vote. He has dodged questions on the campaign trail about student loans, and the new jobs plan his campaign released makes no mention of any plan to address the issue.” [Purple Wisconsin, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 9/15/14]
Scott Walker suggested legislation that would allow borrowers to refinance their student debt was “just politics.” “Burke has said she would focus on reducing the debt college students accumulate. She has called for creating an authority that would allow students to refinance student loans, which was part of a plan that state Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, proposed last year. […] Walker said he would be willing to look at measures like Mason’s refinancing bill, but questioned whether the proposal is ‘more than just politics.’ ‘If it was a good idea, I’m sure they would have passed it four years ago when they controlled the Assembly and the Senate and the governorship,’ he said in response to questions from reporters.” [Racine Journal-Times, 9/10/14]
Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee suggested that Republicans should use a student loan freeze as a bargaining chip to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. “Huckabee’s bold stance and colorful metaphor, however, was harder to take seriously when he suggested that Republicans ask for an extension of the Bush era tax cuts in exchange for the freezing of student loans — likening his stance to a political bargaining chip rather than a sincere belief.” [Huffington Post, 4/21/15]
Ben Carson
Ben Carson claimed the student loan crisis stemmed from students not understanding “the importance of work” and not using “their brains.” “When asked about his solution to the student loan crisis in an interview in 2014, he reiterated this belief in the importance of work by saying, ‘Many people get into financial strife because they don’t understand the importance of work…There’s nothing wrong with working a few years before going to school.’ He continued, ‘How did we get into a big problem there? Somehow, people forgot that you don’t buy a house that costs more the 2 ½ times you annual salary…People have to use their brains. That’s why God gave you a brain…so you could understand what you can and cannot afford.’ […]Given his past statements, it is fair to assume that Carson does not favor legislation as a device to make college more affordable, instead he favors more ‘elbow grease’ and other private sector solutions.” [Huffington Post, 5/8/15]
Ted Cruz
Student Loans
Ted Cruz voted against legislation that would allow borrowers to refinance their student loans. In 2014, Ted Cruz voted against the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, legislation that would have amended the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the refinancing of certain Federal student loans. [S. 2432, 6/4/14; Senate roll call vote 185, 6/11/14]
Ted Cruz voted against legislation that would cap interest rates on federal student loans. [S. Amdt. 1778, 7/24/13; Senate roll call vote 183, 7/24/13]
Rand Paul
Student Loans
Rand Paul voted against legislation that would allow borrowers to refinance their student loans. In 2014, Rand Paul voted against the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, legislation that would have amended the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the refinancing of certain Federal student loans. [S. 2432, 6/4/14; Senate roll call vote 185, 6/11/14]
Rand Paul voted against legislation that would cap interest rates on federal student loans. [S. Amdt. 1778, 7/24/13; Senate roll call vote 183, 7/24/13]
Grants
Rand Paul said he opposed spending on federal grants to college students. “Paul has said he opposes spending on programs such as farm subsidies and federal grants to college students, but that he would be against any efforts to reduce the federal Medicare reimbursements paid to doctors.” [Louisville Courier-Journal, 5/17/10]
Chris Christie
Tuition
Chris Christie said he was “anxious to do away with caps on tuition increases at four-year state colleges.” “Gov. Chris Christie says he’s anxious to do away with caps on tuition increases at four-year state colleges, adding that college presidents should be free to seek ‘market prices’ and be given broader autonomy for nearly all management matters. Christie, who will unveil his annual budget next month, last year led the state to cut spending on higher education by $173 million and set a 4 percent limit on tuition increases, but now says the cap may have been a mistake, adding, ‘I wonder whether I did the right thing there or not.’’ [Asbury Park Press, 1/10/11]
Chris Christie vetoed a college affordability bill that would have studied a program to restructure tuition payments at public universities. “Governor Christie issued an unexpected veto today of a college affordability bill sponsored by the Senate President. The measure was a pet project of the Senate President, Stephen Sweeney. […] The bill would have created a panel to investigate a proposed ‘pay it forward’ program, which would allow students at state colleges to avoid paying traditional tuition. Instead, they would pay the state a percentage of their future income for a certain number of years. The panel would have also looked into other college affordability proposals, including possible changes to state loan and educational savings programs. Christie said those issues ‘are already being addressed’ by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.’ [Record, 1/13/14]
John Kasich
John Kasich on what he’d do to address the student debt crisis: “I don’t know yet.” “He does give some specifics in the question-and-answer sessions. He thinks the president needs a line-item veto, for instance. He thinks immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally should be allowed to stay if they register and possibly pay a fine. But when Dan Kelley, of Stratham, asked what he’d do about helping college graduates get out from under mountains of student loans, suggesting some sort of community service in exchange for forgiveness, Kasich said: ‘I don’t know yet. … I cannot make the promise that all of the sudden I’m going to write it off. … ‘Maybe you just said something that made some sense.’” [Cincinnati Enquirer, 7/27/15]
Rick Perry
Tuition
Rick Perry cut hundreds of millions of dollars from Texas’ public universities, forcing increases in tuition. “He called on colleges to set tuition caps, and broadened access to higher education for undocumented immigrants. But some education officials in Texas say Perry’s policies did more to add to the burden of student debt than relieve it. As governor of the Lone Star state for 14 years, Perry supported hundreds of millions of dollars in spending cuts for public universities. To offset lower funding from the state, colleges in Texas raised tuition, leading more students to borrow to cover expenses.” [Washington Post, 6/5/15]
Texas State Teachers Association spokesperson: Rick Perry’s “overall record on accessibility to higher education was poor.” “‘His overall record on accessibility to higher education was poor,’ said Clay Robison, a spokesman for the Texas State Teachers Association, which fought Perry’s cuts to education budgets. ‘And primarily poor because of the cuts in funding and financial aid.’” [Washington Post, 6/5/15]
Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum criticized the Obama administration for pushing regulations to protect students from predatory for-profit universities. “Former Senator Rick Santorum said last week that he believes President Obama is ‘waging war’ on for-profit colleges. According to a speech he gave at the Detroit Economic Club published in the Detroit Free Press: […] ‘This president has had a war on private [for-profit] education. This comes as a shock to some people, that the president would have a war on something. But this is consistent. He believes that private sector schools are somehow evil and they’re abusive, and his Education Department has done everything they could to make it harder for them to compete for loans and other things and to stay in business.’ Under the Department of Education’s ‘Gainful Employment’ provisions of 2011 for-profit colleges are cut off from federal student aid funding if more than 35 percent of former students aren’t paying off their loans and/or if the average former student spends more than 12 percent of his total earnings servicing student loans.” [Washington Monthly, 2/23/12]
Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal was “one of the most vocal supporters of for-profit schools” and opposed “gainful employment” regulations that hold institutions accepting federal student loan money accountable for student success. “Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has been one of the most vocal supporters of for-profit schools, opposing the president’s ‘gainful employment’ rule. He wrote in a column for the Washington Examiner, ‘The first programs to disappear under the ‘gainful employment’ regulations will be the ones that try to give Americans their first rung on the higher education and career ladders … It is tantamount to redlining educational opportunities for low-income and minority youths.’ His brother, Nikesh Jindal, is an attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLC, represents the schools’ association, The Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities.” [Think Progress, 4/30/15]
Lindsey Graham
Student Loans
Lindsey Graham voted against legislation that would cap interest rates on federal student loans. [S. Amdt. 1778, 7/24/13; Senate roll call vote 183, 7/24/13]
Pell Grants
Lindsey Graham opposed Pres. Obama’s move to expand federal lending to students. “Tucked into the package of health care ‘fixes’ passed by Congress is a provision that would eliminate government subsidies to private lenders and expand federal lending to students. Republicans, including South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, aren’t keen on the development. He says the government is effectively taking over the student loan process and that students will actually end up paying more for their loans as a result. […] Before Congress voted to eliminate subsidies for the Federal Family Education Loan, students paid 6.8 percent on their unsubsidized federal loans. Now that the bill is passed, students will still pay 6.8 percent interest on those loans. There is no ‘surcharge’ in the bill, as Graham says. We rate this claim False.” [PolitiFact, 3/24/10]
George Pataki
Under George Pataki, tuition and fees in the SUNY system rose by 75 percent. “Because of Mr. Pataki, SUNY in many ways operates like a private university today. Tuition and fees have risen by 75 percent since 1995, partly replacing taxpayer funds. The state’s share of financing for core academics has declined to 55.6 percent from 68.6 percent for all four-year campuses.” [New York Times, 3/24/05]