Student Loans overhaul

[thaiboxerken]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/us/politics/31obama.html

As an attachment to the health care bill, Obama signed into law a reform on student loans. This new law repeals fees that the government was paying to banks that mediated these student loans. In short, it's eliminating the middle man and saving the gov't $70 billion.

I have heard criticism of this from my conservative friends. Those criticisms have been simply silly. Examples:

"Now the government is in charge of all student loans."
"Banks will have to lay people off."

The first is absolutely false. This law only applies to federally funded loans.
The second seems to be contrary to conservative ideology. I thought these people were about fiscal responsibility and not having the government giving money to wall street. Am I missing something here?

[Dorian Gray]

More silliness: The House Republican leader, Representative John A. Boehner (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/john_a_boehner/index.html?inline=nyt-per) of Ohio, criticized both the health and education components of the bill, calling them “two job-killing government takeovers that are already hurting our economy.” Says the guy who refuses to take federal funds that he could use to (d'oh) create jobs. And that's weaselly anyway, because he said
“In the letter they’re sending to the White House later today, House Republican leaders tout various members’ proposals that would:
–“Give small businesses a tax deduction equal to 20% of their income.
–“Let small businesses band together in associations to buy health insurance more cheaply.
–“Curb civil lawsuits.
–“Lower individual income tax rates.
–“Expand health savings accounts, which are being squeezed in some of the current health-care reform proposals.
–“Increase businesses’ ability to recover current losses by refiling prior tax returns.” And how are all these tax cuts not taking money from the federal government? What's the difference, besides the taxpayer booty-kissing?

[Dorian Gray]

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack this thread. I guess it's because the student loan bill doesn't affect me - I still have a ways to go on my loans - so I read the rest of the article.

[Thunder]

just how GOPers didn't want to close the submarine base in Groton, CT. the military said it was a waste of money....the GOP said it would kill jobs.

GOP= fiscal conservatives until it hits home.