In October and again in November, we warned that Congress might try to cut the Pell Grant program for low-income college students. We argued that after passing a new law in September that rightly whacked excess student loan bank subsidies to increase Pell Grant funding, Congress might later…

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Over the last year, as we have investigated and reported on the "pay for play" student loan scandals, we have heard from some skeptical loan industry and college officials who question whether any students have actually been hurt by the unethical practices that have been revealed.

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Dodd Bill Proposes to Make Private Loans Dischargeable in Bankruptcy

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) announced last week that he plans to introduce legislation that would allow private student loan borrowers who have taken on unmanageable…

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While debating a key higher education bill last month, top Republicans on the House Committee on Education and Labor made the case that some direct student loan borrowers are being shortchanged. During a markup of legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, Congressmen Rick Keller (R-FL) and Howard P.…

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When Congress returns from its recess next week, unfinished fiscal year 2008 education funding legislation will be high on the agenda. Fiscal year 2008 began on October 1 and funding subject to appropriations for the fiscal year has…

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House Education Committee Unanimously Passes Bill to Reauthorize the Higher Education Act

The House Education Committee unanimously approved legislation on Thursday that would reauthorize the Higher Education Act for five years. The College Opportunity and Affordability Act (H.R.…

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Yesterday, a key Congressional education committee took a groundbreaking albeit modest step on a top flight concern of parents and students - ever escalating college tuition.

For years, the federal government's main role in higher education finance has been to…

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Last month, federal agents raided the campuses of three for-profit colleges around Fort Lauderdale, including one owned by Corinthian Colleges, which is among the largest trade school chains in the country. The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Inspector General, which led the raids with the help of the FBI…

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The leaders of the House Committee on Education and Labor introduced legislation on Friday that would go a long way in addressing consumer advocates' biggest concerns regarding private student loans. The Higher Education Act reauthorization bill would, for instance, bar colleges and lenders from making

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Congressman Rangel's "mother of all tax reform" bills - H.R. 3970, is an interesting mix of items. It includes repeal of the individual AMT, an increase in the standard deduction, a new individual surtax, a lower corporate tax rate and a 1-year extension of 32 temporary provisions.

What would it take to get major tax reform enacted? I think at least the following: