Robert Shireman

Building Fences

Education Policy — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:08:00 -0400

There are not too many things that make state policy makers wring their hands more than seeing their college graduates migrate to other states. Across the nation, officials in states such as California, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, New York, and Wisconsin have been especially pained of late by the reported flight of their graduates.

Thankfully, the Interstate Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution prevents governors and legislatures from levying duties on skills (or on anything else) that cross the state line. By promoting the free flow of labor… more

A Questionable Arrangement

Education Policy — Thu, 31 May 2007 11:34:00 -0400

An internal strategy document from Sallie Mae says a whole lot about how the company makes its money from taxpayers, from students, and then again from taxpayers. On Tuesday, Higher Ed Watch described the subsidies on federal loans that remain Sallie Mae’s priority #1 to keep, while yesterday’s item explained why the company is intent on maintaining the special status that private student loans have in bankruptcy (priority #2).

Next on Sallie Mae’s list is to protect its debt management operations, "especially Guarantor Services." In two… more

Private Student Loans: More Important than Child Support and Taxes?

Education Policy — Wed, 30 May 2007 11:19:00 -0400

Last week, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported on an internal strategy document from Sallie Mae listing the company’s goals in lobbying the new Congress. Not surprisingly, at the top of the list was the need to "Protect FFELP economics" -- in other words, to preserve the excess government subsidies that lenders receive on federal student loans. (These were discussed in yesterday's blog item, which was written by Higher Ed Watch staff).

The number two item on Sallie Mae’s list… more