I’ll admit, for a minute there last Sunday, March 21^st I was glued to CSPAN. It was the health care debate (and I’m using the word “debate” liberally—it was more like a verbal joust, with dems and reps haranguing insults at one another and the speaker having to cut pretty much everyone off).

The last time I was glued to CSPAN, David Banner and Master P were testifying to congress about stereotypes in hip hop. I wouldn’t make that up.

While nothing entirely tangible came from Mr. Banner’s and Mr. P’s testimonies, we got something awesome out of this more recent debate. You guessed it, a more comprehensive health care plan!

And little known to students everywhere—SAFRA was tucked away all nice and warm in the recent passage of this historic health care reform.

Education Week writes a fantastic wrap-up of everything the House vote approved last Sunday, but here are the basics:

“The bill rewrites a four-decades-old student loan program, eliminating its reliance on private lenders and uses the savings to direct $36 billion in new spending to Pell Grants for students in financial need.

… the bill would also provide more than $4 billion to historically black colleges and community colleges.

‘By moving to the federal government’s direct loan program, we will put the best interests of students first and make college loans more reliable and affordable,’ said Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Texas, the chairman of a House higher education subcommittee.”

This week the Senate will vote to approve this same bill, but because it has been fast-tracked with health care, will only need 51 votes to be approved.

Looks like lower interest rates for student loans is on the horizon! Well done, Washington D.C.

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If you missed this opinion editorial last Friday in the Tacoma News Tribune by President Ronald Thomas (University of Puget Sound) and President Loren Anderson (Pacific Lutheran University), check it out now!

Included in this piece is the answer to why Washington, even though we’re facing a 2.6 billion dollar deficit this session, can’t afford to cut need-based grants and work study programs.

Wait a second—everybody out there—I’m pretty sure young people have been saying this since day one? Shout out to university presidents for having our back!

What makes this opinion piece so compelling is that it frames this discussion of college affordability as an issue that impacts everyone, “What our legislators decide will affect not only these students, but ultimately the future prosperity of our state. It will affect us all.”

Presidents Thomas and Anderson also opted for a timeless sports metaphor in describing how state work-study programs benefit all of society, by naming the program “a true triple play.” It helps students make some extra income, it helps universities by filling necessary positions, and it benefits local businesses because students graduate with a lil something on their resume (making them more employable). Heck yes.

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Because League of Education Voters is celebrating and honoring democracy in a very serious way. We’re participating in it (whoooaa).  Instead of spending your first Monday of mid-winter break sleeping in and having breakfast in bed (orange juice toast to our past presidents)… you should come to Olympia with us for an action-packed day of democracy.

We’ll be meeting up in Olympia with our friends at the Children’s Alliance for:

• Advocacy and Activism 101
• identifying the issues (i.e. why you should care!)
• lunch
• RALLY AT THE CAPITOL
• and then an Epic Photo Scavenger Hunt.

Oh what, you haven’t heard about the rally yet? Well, it’s going to be pretty big. Children’s Alliance will be in the house, LEV will be in the house, the Bus, Young Democrats, Washington Student Association, Fuse, the Win-Win network… All in the house.

We’re all gathering in support of Washington State bringing in some new revenue this year. You know why? Because Washington’s broke and that means they are cutting funding to our education system. While we’re fighting to keep those cuts to a minimum, we’re also fighting to make sure Washington is getting creative with how they bring in the dough (because we need to do both!)

See, democracy can be fun. Free scenic bus tour down the I-5 corridor, free lunch, a giant rally on the steps of the capitol, and a photo scavenger hunt?

You may also learn a lil bit about the state you live in… (not a guarantee though, the learning curve is different for everyone!!)

send me an email (Maggie@educationvoters.org) if you are interested. I’ll put your name on the list, we’ll let you on the bus and get you some grub.

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