The early death of bipartisanism

In an unsurprising move, the Democrats have put an end to their “bipartisanship” rhetoric, and have once again begun playing games with the American public.

Titled “The College Student Relief Act of 2007,” Democrats forced through a bill that does nothing to relieve college students of any form of debt, much less help them pay for tuition. The bill will, over a period of four years, cut the interest rate on subsidized Federal Stafford loans in half, from 6.8% to 3.4%.

The 3.4% rate, as noted by many Republicans, will be in effect for a mere six months, then forcing Congress to either continue the cut, or allow it to balloon immediately back to 6.8% in January 2012. The Democrats allege that this bill will help make college tuition affordable for millions of needy students. House Republican Whip Roy Blunt counters that, stating that it will not help a single student get to college, or impact their ability to pay college tuition.

To make college more affordable for students, two things could be done. First, Congress could investigate real ways to help colleges and universities stop the tuition explosion that is happening around the country. Second, Congress could expand the Pell Grant Program, which is a program that gives needy students grants to attend college - grants that do not have to be repaid upon graduation, unlike the Stafford loans.

But the Stafford program does none of this. Rather, the federal government pays the interest on these subsidized loans, and these students still have to take out a loan for a certain amount. Hence, this does nothing to help current students, or even future students lighten the load of college tuition. It only makes the American public think they are getting a deal out of something. They are not.

On a much more interesting note, however, it only took the Democrats a mere 40 hours out of the first 100 legislative hours to abandon all notions of bipartisanship. They did not allow any debate of this issue to go on in the committee level, the first step for a bill reaching the floor of the House, and then they structured the floor vote in such a way that permitted no amendments to this bill.

Now, had this tactic gone on under a Republican-controlled House, the media would be screaming bloody murder over this. Imagine, Republicans hammering an “unfair” bill (because the bill only affects a portion of all college students) through the House, silencing all opposition in committee, and not even allowing for constructive criticism or freedom of ideas on the floor by obstructing amendments.

But, how much is mentioned in the news? Only the fact that the Democrats cut - for a whole six months, may you remember - the interest rate on subsidized Federal Stafford loans. That, and they did it all within their “100 Hour Clock,” which in and of itself is a sham, considering it was narrowed down to mere legislative time and the House being in session. But, when one party silences another party in committee, and does not bother to allow amendments, it is easy to imagine that making legislation gets easier.