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| Congressman Wants Further College-Related Legislation |
Congressman Phil Hare says he's helped solve one problem plaguing college students and their families -- now, he says, he wants to work on another.
Hare spoke Friday at Knox College about reforms to the student loan and Pell Grant systems that he says will save taxpayers money while reducing interest rates on student loans, putting all loans through the Direct Loan program instead of through banks, and other things.
Hare says he's been asked by constituents to figure something out to help keep college graduates working in their home areas, instead of wherever jobs may take them, so they can pay off those student loans.
"I'd like to see us be able to invest in our young people," Hare said. "If they're willing to go into a community that's under-served -- let's say a teacher, or a nurse, or whatever -- and they stay in that community for five years, and they perform their work well, and they become part of that community -- they've earned money, they pay taxes -- at the end of that five years, we forgive the loan, including the interest."
Hare says he hasn't introduced a bill to that effect yet, because he's asked the Congressional Budget Office to give it a score.
But he believes when it does get scored, it will actually make the Government money, because students will continue to live in and spend money in their communities.
(Rep. Phil Hare, left, talks with Paul Steenis, Knox College Vice President for Enrollment, Friday at Knox's Old Main. WGIL News Story and Photo by Will Stevenson.) |
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| 05 02 10 by Newsroom |
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