An Idea by Bruce Mesnekoff to give relief from student loans

1. An Idea by Bruce Mesnekoff to give relief from student loans This Labor Day holiday marks not only the start of a new academic year for the nation’s colleges and universities but the stretch run in the 2016 presidential campaign, one in which the political discourse is polarized on issues such as immigration, national security and even national identity. Today I have long phone call with MD of The Student Loan Help Center Mr. Bruce Mesnekoff, Who is also Student Loan consolidation expert from Florida. Let’s see what they suggest to our Listeners today. While the presidential campaign is like no other we have witnessed in our lifetime, filtering through the harsh rhetoric is some direction and clarity for those of us who still think a college education and a college-educated workforce are critical to our country’s future. While we are not naive, nor do we believe that a public university education should be completely free, there is a plan to address the dramatic rise in college tuition costs and the crushing debt too many students and their families incur. As MD of The Student Loan Help Center, we believe the plan put forward by Hillary Clinton will help graduates in Student Loan who need relief from the debt they currently carry and should be taken seriously. If we talk about student debt in this country has reached crisis levels and is now estimated to be $1.2 -$1.5 trillion. Nearly 7 out of every 10 new graduates of four-year colleges are in debt and carry an average balance of nearly $30,000-$35,000. This is bad not only for those graduates but also the economy of our country. In fact, student debt has surpassed credit card, car loan and home equity lines of credit to be the second-largest source of consumer debt in this country. So Bruce Mesnekoff, Now My Question to you is what is proposed, Can you discuss Clinton Plan with us today? As per Bruce Mesnekoff, from The Student Loan Help Center, Clinton Suggests Graduates will be able to refinance their student loans just like borrowers can refinance other loans. They will also be able to enroll in income-based repayment so that the loan will be paid back, but at a rate and period that will work for them. And, they will be able to get relief for engaging in public service such as AmeriCorps as well as receiving credit for starting a business or social enterprise. The plan also addresses the needs of current students and future graduates. Tuition has risen 40- 45 percent at four-year public colleges and universities in the past 9-10 years, often shutting out students who are otherwise qualified. Under this plan, families earning less than $125,000- $130,000 would be able to send their children to public colleges and universities tuition-free. Federal assistance would also be expanded to include year-round Pell Grant funding and the

2. expectation that students would work part time as well. In addition, enhanced funding for minority-serving institutions would be available. As Bruce Mesnekoff told us, For the plan to work, however, there will have to be a commitment on the part of everyone involved. Federal investment will have to vastly increase, matched by states providing greater per-student support. Educational institutions/ Universities will have to do all they can to rein in costs and streamline pathways for student success. This is part of the “New College Compact” that includes students, faculty and everyone doing their part. In California we have already been moving forward on many of these ideas. But we need to do more. The system of higher education in California has been the model for the rest of the world. Unless there is a dramatic increase in federal and state investment, higher education in this state will be damaged irreparably. Increasing the number of college graduates by millions is a national imperative and a public good. The Clinton plan recognizes that, and offers a possible path forward.