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The Hill
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Hill
GOP's proposed cap on grad student loans sparks fears of pricing out fields of study
Congress is on the verge of greenlighting new restrictions capping how much graduate students will be able to borrow from the federal government in a move that some worry will ice marginalized communities out of advanced degrees. As part of the megabill Republicans hope to pass this week to advance President Trump's agenda, senators included a ceiling on federal student loans for graduate, medical and law students as a way to combat the rising cost of college, arguing unlimited loans incentivizes colleges to raise their prices. Graduate students will only be able to borrow $20,500 a year, with a lifetime cap of $100,000. For professional students, including those studying law and medicine, they could borrow $50,000 a year with a lifetime cap of $200,000. But with some students unable to cover the full cost of an advanced degree without a government loan, advocates worry about students turning to private lenders or skipping out on an advanced degree altogether at a time when more jobs are requiring the additional education. 'There are two very likely outcomes of this. One is that more and more students will decide graduate school is not worth it and won't go at all despite the growing share of the workforce that requires some form of post-graduate education … Those will disproportionately be Black and Latino Americans. I would expect significant growth in the private lending market, those loans will most likely have higher interest rates and fewer borrower protections,' said Kyle Southern, associate vice president of higher education quality at The Institute for College Access & Success. The GOP-crafted provision would also eliminate the Graduate PLUS program, which allows students to cover the full cost of a post-graduate program. The pitch comes as Republicans have attached a slew of measures aimed at generating savings for the federal government in the nearly 900-page package they hope to pass this week. The reconciliation bill, which has already passed the Senate, is estimated to put trillions of dollars toward the nation's deficits over the next decade. Other changes to student loans programs in the bill including simplifying repayment plans down to two options and expanding Pell Grants to include workplace programs. Asked about the proposed grad student cap earlier this week, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), head of the Senate committee that crafted the proposal, told The Hill that 'if you allow more money to be borrowed, schools just raise their tuition more, and that's what we're trying to stop.' 'There's some suggestion that there's no recourse for people who cannot borrow as much as the school would have them borrow,' said Cassidy, who also worked as a gastroenterologist for years before serving in Congress. But with changes to Medicaid, a doctors' shortage and a lack of inflation-adjusted measures for the cap, others speculate this move will lead not only to fewer medical professionals but to harm for disadvantaged communities. 'Physician groups have warned that these changes could worsen doctor shortages, in combination with the proposed changes to Medicaid that could force rural hospitals to close. This legislation can have significant impact on access to health care, particularly for rural Americans. And furthermore, because these limits are not indexed to inflation, over time, they will gradually cover less and less of the total cost of attendance,' said Sara Partridge, associate director for higher education policy at the Center for American Progress. The price of college has risen sharply since the 1980s, with a report from Georgetown University estimating a 169 percent increase from 1980 to 2019. 'The biggest concern that I'm hearing is the graduate student loan cap,' Sen. Shelley Moore Capito ( who heads the subcommittee that oversees annual Education Department funding, told The Hill over the weekend. She said she's heard from 'graduate, particularly medical schools, dental school, concerned about that.' However, Capito, who ultimately voted for the bill, also noted cases where 'these professionals are coming out with such enormous debt that I think the schools need to work to try to rein in the cost there so it is more affordable.' Cassidy argued it is 'going to be a different mix' of how the plan would work for students. 'My family helped pay for my education,' he said. 'Some people worked while they went to school. Some people borrowed money independently of the federal program. Some people got scholarships.' 'Some people, and by the way, this is very doable, committed four years to working for either the Public Health Service or the military, and they got a total free ride. Now a total free ride, and those programs still exist,' he added. Democrats have sharply criticized the plan. 'On so many levels, it's problematic,' Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), who serves on the House Committee on Education and Workforce, told The Hill on Wednesday. 'But if you're trying to have a professional pipeline, the people who are dentists and doctors, which we absolutely need, I mean, I'm an educator, and I think that you meet people where they are,' Hayes said. 'We absolutely need job training programs. We actually absolutely need skills training programs, but we also need people with professional degrees.' 'What this says, once again, is that only the people who can already afford it should be able to go to college,' she said. 'So what about low income communities with high achieving students who want to become get a professional degree and go back to their community, to be a dentist or a doctor or, you know, a social worker, the things that require graduate degrees and saying that, unless you can, can pay for it yourself.' Other critics say further options are available to Congress to rein in the cost of higher education. If an individual cannot cover the cost of their program with the cap on federal loans, experts posit they will go for private loans, which come with their own difficulties. Some would have difficulties getting a co-signer for a private student loan, and interest rates are higher. Additionally, despite being a much smaller portion of all student loans, 40 percent of student loan-related complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are regarding private loans. 'There's certainly a legitimate conversation to be had about the affordability, especially of graduate education, and of the payoff on that return on investment. I do think that the disproportionate concern for high-cost, low-quality programs has been in the for profit college sector, and we've seen legal action taken as such. And so, if it was me making these decisions, I would take a more targeted approach to really addressing those kinds of deceptive practices and high cost, low outcome programs for students,' said Southern.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
With Missouri abortion access in limbo, both sides eye battles in court, on the ballot
An abortion procedure room pictured on March 3 at Planned Parenthood in Columbia (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent). Both sides of the abortion debate seemed caught by surprise last week by the MIssouri Supreme Court's order that essentially reimposed the state's abortion ban. Planned Parenthood clinics were sent scrambling, cancelling abortion appointments and working with patients to ensure access in other states — a return to the way things operated before voters enshrined reproductive rights in the state constitution last year. Anti-abortion advocates, meanwhile, celebrated the return of regulations but acknowledged the win could be temporary. With no clear indication of when — or if — access to abortion will be restored, and a GOP-crafted amendment banning the procedure heading for the ballot next year, advocates on both sides are navigating the uncertainty and gearing up for the fight ahead. '…anti-abortion politicians in Jeff City have once again weaponized our political system against Missourians. What's really clear here is the confusion this will cause among patients was the whole point,' said Mallory Schwarz, executive director of Abortion Action Missouri, later adding: 'Missourians proved at the ballot box that what we want is access to abortion. This is not over, and I'm confident that ultimately abortion care will continue in Missouri.' Sam Lee, a longtime anti-abortion advocate with Campaign Life Missouri, expressed relief that state regulations are back in place but cautioned that the only way to 'safeguard the lives of unborn children' is to amend the constitution next year. 'While it is good news that abortion has ended in Missouri – at least for now – it would be a mistake for the pro-life movement to rely on the state courts to keep these health and safety laws and regulations in place,' he said. Missouri Supreme Court order reinstates 'de facto abortion ban' across the state While the court last week imposed what abortion providers called a 'de facto ban,' it didn't actually weigh in on the constitutionality of state regulations. The decision was procedural, calling into question the legal standard a Jackson County judge used to justify blocking certain abortion regulations enacted over the years by state lawmakers. The injunction was vacated and the judge was ordered to re-evaluate the case using the standards the Supreme Court laid out last week. A new injunction could be issued, or access could be left in limbo while the case makes its way to a January 2026 trial. Fifty-two percent of Missouri voters in November approved Amendment 3, which said 'the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed or otherwise restricted unless the government demonstrates that such action is justifiable by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.' The amendment made Missouri's abortion ban unconstitutional, at least until the point of fetal viability, which is generally considered at or around 24 weeks. Attorney General Andrew Bailey acknowledges this in his appeal to the Supreme Court, writing that among the laws which are no longer enforceable because of Amendment 3 are 'Missouri's prohibitions on abortion before viability.' But myriad other restrictions remained on the books, including wait times before abortions and constraints on where abortions could be performed. Planned Parenthood affiliates in Missouri sued in December to overturn the state's Targeted Restrictions on Abortion Providers, or TRAP laws. Over the course of a decade before an outright ban on abortion was put in place, those laws resulted in the number of abortions performed in Missouri falling from more than 5,000 to less than 200. Over the course of two rulings — one in December and one in February — Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang pointed to the voter-approved constitutional amendment in issuing the temporary injunction. Most notably, Zhang struck down licensing requirements for abortion clinics, arguing the regulations were 'unnecessary' and 'discriminatory' because they do not treat services provided in abortion facilities the same as other types of similarly situated health care, including miscarriage care. She left in place a requirement that all abortion providers have a medical license. Zhang's ruling opened the door for procedural abortions to resume in Planned Parenthood's Kansas City and Columbia clinics. Medication abortions, which nationally make up two-thirds of all abortions, have not been available as the clinics have been unable to get the state to approve a required complication plan. The state Supreme Court order, signed by Chief Justice Mary Russell, means even procedural abortions are now inaccessible in Missouri. 'This is not the end of the legal battle, but it is a critical victory for every pro-life Missourian,' said Brian Westbrook, executive director of Coalition Life. Abortion may be inaccessible in Missouri, but 'the good news is that this court ruling does not affect other reproductive and sexual health care provided at Planned Parenthood health centers across the state,' said Dr. Margaret Baum, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers. The hope, Baum said, is that the court's order is only a 'temporary setback.' In the meantime, she said access to abortion is still available in Kansas and Illinois and that Planned Parenthood will support patients 'who need lodging, transportation and other resources to access sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Warren backs Trump call to scrap debt limit, blasts GOP tax bill
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Friday backed President Trump's call to abolish the nation's debt ceiling, pressing for bipartisan action to 'get rid of it forever.' In a post on X, Warren wrote that she and Trump agree that the debt limit, which caps how much money the Treasury can owe to pay the country's bills, should 'be scrapped to prevent an economic catastrophe.' However, she also added in a jab to a GOP-crafted tax bill to enact Trump's priorities that 'jacking up the debt limit by $4 trillion to fund more tax breaks for billionaires is an outrage.' Her post referenced recent comments Trump made shortly before at a press conference with tech billionaire Elon Musk earlier on Friday afternoon. At the press conference, Trump cited Warren's past support for abolishing the debt limit and said he 'always agreed with her' on the matter. 'She wanted to see it terminated, gotten rid of not being voted on every five years or 10 years, and the reason was because it's so catastrophic for our country,' Trump said. The debt limit was last suspended by Congress as part of a bipartisan bill struck between former President Biden and GOP leadership in 2023, staving off the threat of national default through early 2025. The Treasury Department said back in January that the government would have to implement 'extraordinary measures' to keep the nation from defaulting on its more than $30 trillion debt – a scenario experts have warned would have disastrous economic effects for the U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is urging Congress to raise the nation's debt ceiling by mid-July to prevent a default, warning such extraordinary measures could be exhausted in August when Congress is set to be in recess. Republicans are looking to raise the debt ceiling as part of the party's broader tax and spending cuts package, but there are concerns over the plan's path ahead amid intra-party rifts on tax changes, as well as reforms for programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Warren backs Trump call to scrap debt limit, blasts GOP tax bill
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Friday backed President Trump's call to abolish the nation's debt ceiling, pressing for bipartisan action to 'get rid of it forever.' In a post on X, Warren wrote that she and Trump agree that the debt limit, which caps how much money the Treasury can owe to pay the country's bills, should 'be scrapped to prevent an economic catastrophe.' However, she also added in a jab to a GOP-crafted tax bill to enact Trump's priorities that 'jacking up the debt limit by $4 trillion to fund more tax breaks for billionaires is an outrage.' Her post referenced recent comments Trump made shortly before at a press conference with tech billionaire Elon Musk earlier on Friday afternoon. At the press conference, Trump cited Warren's past support for abolishing the debt limit and said he 'always agreed with her' on the matter. 'She wanted to see it terminated, gotten rid of not being voted on every five years or 10 years, and the reason was because it's so catastrophic for our country,' Trump said. The debt limit was last suspended by Congress as part of a bipartisan bill struck between former President Biden and GOP leadership in 2023, staving off the threat of national default through early 2025. The Treasury Department said back in January that the government would have to implement 'extraordinary measures' to keep the nation from defaulting on its more than $30 trillion debt – a scenario experts have warned would have disastrous economic effects for the U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is urging Congress to raise the nation's debt ceiling by mid-July to prevent a default, warning such extraordinary measures could be exhausted in August when Congress is set to be in recess. Republicans are looking to raise the debt ceiling as part of the party's broader tax and spending cuts package, but there are concerns over the plan's path ahead amid intra-party rifts on tax changes, as well as reforms for programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dems warn House Republicans will pay price at ballot box for passing Trump's 'big beautiful bill'
EXCLUSIVE – As House GOP leaders advance President Donald Trump's so-called "big, beautiful bill" toward a floor vote this week, Democrats, who are in the minority, are sounding a warning. "We're going to hold Republicans accountable and there will be a price to pay," Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington State, the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, emphasized as she pointed to next year's midterm elections during a Fox News Digital interview. Republicans are holding onto an extremely razor-thin majority in the chamber right now, and Democrats only need a three-seat pickup to win back the House majority in the 2026 elections. Additionally, they view the sweeping and controversial GOP-crafted measure stocked full of Trump's second-term priorities on tax cuts, immigration, defense, energy and the debt limit – which is currently making its way through numerous votes and hurdles in the House – as political ammunition. Inching Closer: House Speaker Johnson Reaches Tentative Agreement With Some Holdout Gop Lawmakers "This is a terrible piece of legislation," DelBene argued. Read On The Fox News App Democrats from across the party are shining a spotlight on the Republicans' restructuring of Medicaid, the nearly 60-year-old federal government program that provides health insurance for roughly 71 million adults and children with limited incomes. "Let's be clear, all Republicans are talking about right now is how many people and how fast they're going to take away healthcare. They have these huge cuts to Medicaid, 14 million people lose healthcare across the country, and they're talking about how fast they can do that," DelBene charged on Tuesday. She claimed that House Republicans are "all blindly following the president and going to blindly follow him off the cliff." Rep. Ted Lieu of California, another member of the House Democrat leadership, argued as he took questions from reporters that the bill "has the largest cut to healthcare in U.S. history." Gop Holdouts Unmoved By Trump's 'Big, Beautiful' Trip To Capitol Hill The cuts to Medicaid, being drafted in part as an offset to pay for extending Trump's 2017 tax cut law, which is set to expire later this year, include a slew of new rules and regulatory requirements for those seeking coverage. Among them are a new set of work requirements for many of those seeking coverage. "When you go across the country and talk to folks, folks are outraged, and they're scared. They're scared about the cuts to healthcare, not only cutting 14 million people off of healthcare but then raising costs beyond that for everyone and things like rural hospitals closing," DelBene argued. "This would have devastating impacts across the country. This is policy that Republicans are fighting for, cutting nutrition health programs so that families don't even have healthy food." House Republicans push back against the Democrats' attacks and say what they are doing is putting an end to waste, fraud and abuse currently in the Medicaid system, so the program can work for the public in the way that it was intended. They call any talk that they are cutting aid to mothers, children, people with disabilities and the elderly a "flat out lie." First On Fox: These Republican Governors Say They 'Stand United' In Support Of Trump's 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' DelBene countered, saying, "we're not buying the argument because what we've seen in committee, what they've written down on paper is massive cuts in healthcare and all to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest in our country. This isn't a bill about helping working families. This bill is devastating for working families." However, her counterparty, Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, told Fox News Digital in a statement that "Republicans are ending waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid so the most vulnerable get the care they need." Additionally, Hudson argued that "Democrats are lying to protect a broken status quo that lets illegal immigrants siphon off billions meant for American families. We're strengthening Medicaid for future generations by protecting taxpayers and restoring integrity." Dating back to last year's presidential campaign, Trump has vowed not to touch Medicaid. On Tuesday, as he made a rare stop on Capitol Hill to meet behind closed doors with House Republicans in order to shore up support for the bill, Trump's message to fiscally conservative lawmakers looking to make further cuts to Medicaid was "don't f--- around with Medicaid." While there are divisions between Republicans over Medicaid, and a chasm between the two major parties over the longstanding entitlement program, there is one point of agreement – this issue will continue to simmer on the campaign trail in one form or another long after the legislative battles on Capitol Hill are article source: Dems warn House Republicans will pay price at ballot box for passing Trump's 'big beautiful bill'
