The Pell Grants sticking point

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_07/the_pell_grants_sticking_point031174.php

The Pell Grants sticking point

By Steve Benen


Congressional Republicans who oppose Speaker Boehner’s budget plan have more than one complaint, but it’s fascinating to see one of the main sticking points GOP leaders ran into last night.

House conservatives who have stalled legislation to raise the national debt limit are angry that it includes $17 billion in supplemental spending for Pell Grants, which some compare to welfare. Legislation crafted by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to raise the debt limit by $900 billion would directly appropriate $9 billion for Pell Grants in 2012 and another $8 billion in 2013. This has shocked some conservative House freshmen who say they were elected to cut spending, not increase it. Some House Republicans think of it as being akin to welfare.

This isn’t a joke. Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) said of the Pell Grant provision, “I really don’t understand why we’re increasing spending in a bill supposed to be cutting spending.” Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) conceded the Pell Grants have “been part of the discussion” among conservatives who were debating whether they could support the bill.

About a month ago, during a different debate, John Cole noted, “If these guys were comic book villains, no one would buy it because it’s just too over the top.”

It’s an assessment with broad applicability.

[flamingdem]

1. Stupidity is more destructive than terrorism nt

[DCKit]

4. Stupid terrorists? Or simply ignorant. nt

[pscot]

7. Being willing to go to national bankruptcy over Pell grants

is way beyond mere ignorance. It's bone stupid.

[DCKit]

8. You'll get no argument from me. nt

[treestar]

2. Evil Republicans

Nothing is beneath them.

[Laf.La.Dem.]

3. GOOD

you guys alrady has to mush book leanring!

or - for my DU brothers:

(We already have too much of that book learning!)

[TwilightGardener]

5. Why should poor and working class kids go to college? What good does that do?

Just makes them smarter, more uppity, and less likely to vote Republican.

[jwirr]

6. Pell grants pay back more than any other form of grants. If they are

welfare they are the best kind of welfare that exists. Not only do most students pay them back plus interest but they allow for the student to get a better job in the future and pay in more taxes than he/she would have without the education. That doesn't even count the creative benefits that may be part of the payback.

The Tbagging rethugs are crazy.

[shanti]

9. a grant doesn't have to

be paid back like a loan. it's not welfare though.

[jwirr]

10. Correct. Thank you. Other than that what I said still holds true. We

get a lot back when we help a student get through college.

[JoePhilly]

12. I received Pell grants, and my income and my taxes are much higher

as a result ... I've "paid back" that pell grant probably 100X over.

Those pell grants helped me get a degree, helped increase my income significantly, and as a result, my taxes increased accordingly.

Pell grants definitely create a much higher return then they cost initially.

[Morizovich]

11. K&R, sister!

:-)