Boehner: So-Called “Student Aid” Bill Breaks Promises to Students, Taxpayers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) issued the following statement today on the so-called College Cost Reduction Act (H.R. 2669), legislation that worsens America ’s deepening crisis with entitlement spending and uses taxpayer dollars to erase the student loan debts of politicians and lobbyists:

“This so-called ‘student aid’ bill breaks a number of Democratic promises to students and taxpayers, and is a sad addition to the majority’s growing list of failures. Democrats promised to make college affordable and accessible for all – instead, they shamefully pushed a bill that uses taxpayer dollars to erase the student loan debts of Members of Congress and lobbyists, and forces working families to subsidize college graduates. They promised to be fiscally responsible and reform entitlement programs – instead, this bill creates at least nine costly new entitlement programs. They promised not to saddle taxpayers with higher costs – but this bill adds billions of dollars in long-term costs and worsens America ’s problem with out-of-control entitlement spending.

“Education is the backbone of a strong economy and the key to America ’s competitiveness in the 21st Century. But this bill does little to help low- to middle-income students attend college and buries taxpayers deeper in debt.

“I am encouraged that the President has indicated he will veto this irresponsible bill if it reaches his desk, and I believe House Republicans will supply more than enough votes to sustain the President’s veto when it comes.”

NOTE: Last year, 180 House Democrats voted against the College Access & Opportunity Act (H.R. 609), a bill that would have increased access to higher education for low- to middle-income students. Today, Democrats defeated a Republican proposal specifying that any borrower who is a full-time elected official or a registered lobbyist at either the state or federal level would be ineligible for the taxpayer-funded loan forgiveness benefits congressional Democrats provide through their “student aid” bill.