Pombo votes to cut 12.7 billion in federal student loans

From the Tracy Press:

"Budget cuts could affect college students
Brenda Huang
Tracy Press

Congress narrowly passed a bill Wednesday that will cut $12.7 billion in federal student loans...

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...The provisions on student financial aid are part of the Deficit Reduction Act, which shaves $39 billion off federal programs such as Medicaid and Medicare.

“Instead of investing in higher education and the future of our country, Congress passed legislation that puts college even further out of reach for America’s families,” said critic Eddy Morales, president of the United States Student Association.

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Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, supported the bill, which was passed by a vote of 216-214.

“Tough decisions must be made, including updating some of our federal programs and reining in spending to ensure a strong economy,” Pombo said. “The alternative is to raise taxes for every working American and pass along the heavy burden of a deficit to future generations.”

more...
http://www.tracypress.com/local/2006-02-02-budget.php

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-I thought they were already passing along the heavy burden of a deficit to future generations, isn't that what the massive corporate welfare, tax cuts for the rich, out of control and waisteful defense spending, and the war in iraq, -get us? - Tax cuts for the rich, loop holes, subsidies, bail-outs, and tax breaks for big business, oil, and defense, cuts for students, the poor, veterans, the sick and elderly.

This is far-right republican values in action.

How does the Republican majority think we're going to fix the deficit? A. make the democrats raise taxes, or B. Cut social programs, either way they win. This is what Grover Norquist meant when he said he wanted to get the government to "the size where we can drown it in the bathtub." It's called the Starve-the-Beast conservative strategy and it's nothing new, it's just extremely dangerous.