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One Student Does the Incredible: Gets Law Passed for State to Pay Off College Debts

By Joshua Holland, AlterNet. Posted June 30, 2007.


Andrew Bossie found the staggering costs of tuition, books, and living expenses at college in Maine to be untenable. Working with fellow activists, his campaign eventually convinced the Legislature to offer a way out of debt.
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When nonvoters are asked why they don't participate in politics, the most common answer they give is that they don't think they can have any impact. The system's gamed, they say, broken, and lawmakers are only concerned about the interests of their cronies.

Thankfully, Andrew Bossie, a young grass-roots organizer, never came to believe that ordinary people are powerless. In 2005, Bossie, then a student at the University of Southern Maine, looked around and noticed that a generation of young people was having real problems affording the kind of education that most people see as vital to having a shot at the American dream. "The skyrocketing costs of tuition, books and living expenses was taking its toll not only on me, but also on my siblings, friends and peers," Bossie wrote in an e-mail exchange. "It was not uncommon to see a college dorm vacated mid-semester because a tuition bill couldn't be paid, or to find a seat once occupied by an eager student empty, because they simply could not afford to continue."

Nobody told Andrew Bossie that he couldn't do anything about the bleak post-graduation prospects so many of his fellow students faced, so he decided he would. "I had a crazy, hare-brained idea," Bossie told me in a phone interview. "And I started to have conversations with people who were politically active, and when I did that I saw that it generated a lot of excitement."

The idea was fairly simple: help students pay off their debts if they stay in Maine. Last week, two years later, Bossie's work, along with those of other activists and groups, including the League of Independent Voters, bore fruit when Maine legislators passed the Opportunity Maine Initiative. The measure will give tax credits to help Maine residents pay off their student debt as long as they stay in the state. "Nontraditional" students returning to get their degrees would also be eligible for the credits, as would employers who pay off their workers' student loans as a benefit.

After a two-year campaign, the measure had been on its way to voters in the form of a statewide referendum this November when Maine's legislature stepped in and passed the bill by wide margins -- 142-0 in the State House and 27-8 in the Senate.

It's a small example of good governance in an era when an increasing number of Americans have learned the hard way how rare that is -- it's an example of legislating in the public interest; the antithesis of deals cut in Congress during the dark of night or the federal efforts to clean up after hurricane Katrina.

Young Bossie had been involved in student politics and had gotten a taste of grass-roots organizing when he worked on a campaign to beat back a referendum that would have repealed a state law outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexual preference. "I realized, as we worked against a referendum process that would have allowed businesses to fire employees just for being gay -- something I considered very negative -- that it would be just as easy to use the referendum process to do something positive."

Soon, Bossie found himself heading up a coalition of activists called Opportunity Maine. "The greatest challenge," Bossie wrote last week, "was that the group that formed to spearhead this issue was made up almost entirely of novices, with little to no campaign experience, and, for the most part, young people -- we were building the plane and flying it at the same time ... None of us had really ever done anything like this, especially on this level before."


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See more stories tagged with: debt, student loans, opportunity maine, grass-roots activism

Joshua Holland is an AlterNet staff writer.

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Tax Credits
Posted by: EKSwitaj on Jun 30, 2007 3:19 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Tax credits are all well and good, but they don't help that much until you're making enough money for them to reduce your tax burden. They might help me now, as I'm paying back my loans, but they certainly wouldn't have helped me while I was actually in college. If I hadn't gotten academic scholarships while I was an undergraduate, I never would've been able to make it through school, even if I had taken out all the loans offered to me.

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» RE: Tax Credits Posted by: HeroesAll
» RE: Tax Credits Posted by: asilsfable
non-corporate welfare - hurrah!
Posted by: Suzon on Jun 30, 2007 3:25 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
In a day and age when corporations are raking in government money big time, it's great to hear about legislators actually responding to the needs of ordinary people.

Good for Bossie and all those who pitched in.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Nice to see something encouraging for a change
Posted by: HeroesAll on Jun 30, 2007 3:26 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Maybe I'm just tired of the ride to Helena Handbasket that we're all on, but I have to say it's good to hear of someone doing something positive. I imagine it must be worse in the US, since the political system there is even more constrained than here in Oz.

Actually, I'm always quietly amused when Americans and Australians trumpet loudly how much better their countries are because of democracy, when all they do for democracy is make a mark on paper every few years. That's a very pallid democracy, and in practice, it's indistinguishable from other places (such as Hong Kong, Korea and Japan) that have essentially been ruled by an imposed administration.

Anyway, it's good to see some grass-roots activism, and it's also good to see some sensible solutions being adopted. I think we've all had enough of laws being passed because some old fart wanted to stop people doing something, or because they merely have to be seen to act.

We need more getting smart on things, and much less getting tough on them.

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» Not really Posted by: karma_ran_over_dogma
» Good Point NoWhereMan- Posted by: WitchyNy
RN
Posted by: ZaZa on Jun 30, 2007 4:10 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I am so glad Andrew did this. It is a good start. I think healthcare and education should be covered for all from birth to death. I would not mind the tax increase so that all could have those opportunities. I am almost 60 years old and went to college in my 40's on loans. I have worked hard as an RN and currently do Hospice when I am able. Through life and several car accidents I have acquired several disabilities including chronic pain and TBI. I have in the last years only been able to earn enough to pay basic bills. I had back surgery with no insurance and paid for it monthly over 8+ years. My loans have rolled over and have now doubled in amount. I have never defaulted and pay something every month but am unable to cover the monthly interest. My last payment comes when I am 80 something. I love to work and have worked outside of my RN profession at a lower pay when it was more fitting for my disabilities. It is very hard sometimes. I do not own furniture or a car or a house. I do have bookcases and books. No one should carry this education burden to their grave like this. Thank you again Andrew for helping youth to avoid what I am going through.

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Try it is Massachusetts.
Posted by: marshall on Jun 30, 2007 6:09 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Nice to see that the Maine legislature follows the rules of initiative petition, and does what the people want. In Massachusetts the legislature is above the people, they do what they deem best. That process would not necessarily not work in Massachusetts. It’s taxation without representation here.

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CONGRATULATIONS !
Posted by: VZEQICVA on Jun 30, 2007 7:11 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Some ideas have no downside. How could they not vote for it. Everybody wins. Thanks to the young people who made this happen. A story like this is very reassuring. Thanks, ANNA

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I don't think this is a given...
Posted by: Rebcamuse on Jun 30, 2007 7:27 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
While I understand that the problems are cyclical, it will be interesting to see if those firms begin to "beat down the doors to create new jobs" in Maine. Unless that is part of the program, what might happen is you get a bunch of debt-free college graduates bound to limited opportunities in Maine.

Other issues: graduate school?? Is there a provision to go out of state for graduate school (just as a loan is usually deferred)? And of course, even if those with higher degrees were to return to Maine, the market will not support that many academicians in one state. So not every "dream" might be supported by this program.

That said, it is something in an area where we often have nothing. I do applaud grassroots activism, but let's remember there may still be some bathwater in with the baby?

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» NOT ABOUT ACADEMICS Posted by: gellero
IN Australia-
Posted by: WitchyNy on Jun 30, 2007 7:43 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
-all college is free. Only after the student graduates and starts earning a HIGH income -do they start making any school loan payments. This is the way it is in most first world countries...as well as little tiny Cuba.

It used to be that way in California-I started college there in the 1970's -for FREE. NO tuition. Governor Ronald Regan put a stop to that.

As Michael Moore says about Medical care-the same should be true with education. Get the profit out of it. To have a good country, a good world, we need to educate our people. It is a basic right and need, not a luxury.

We need to get get rid of these Mr. Potter-rich corrupt dinosaur capitalist war mongers- and EVOLVE.

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» RE: IN Australia- Posted by: AussieGeoff
Look at Mike Gravel's National Initiative
Posted by: Coolio on Jun 30, 2007 8:23 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If you liked this heartwarming story, you should all look at what the National Initiative is that presidential candidate Mike Gravel is pushing as his primary agenda. It's a referendum system for the federal government, to bring the kind of citizen power that led Andrew to get these changes made in Maine to the nation as a whole.

http://www.nationalinitiative.org/

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» PURE FOLLY Posted by: gellero
OF COURSE THERE'S DEBT
Posted by: gellero on Jun 30, 2007 8:40 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
'TUITION HAS OUTPACED INFLATION'............ever ask why?? Here's a thought......subsidized loans have distorted the market and given schools the ability to raise fees to what the market will bear....pure economic theory.
The people who must pay for this (AKA taxpaying voters) will never allow it to pass once they see the bill.
Nice try...definitely an E for effort.

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ANOTHER THOUGHT...... (not addressed by Mr. Holland...)
Posted by: gellero on Jun 30, 2007 8:55 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
And what makes one think this is all about 'traditional' college. Beauty schools, truck driving schools, motorcycle repair schools all can get their student subsidized loans. Lots of scammers outside academia.....and you can't deny them 'equal rights' as a school. They will proliferate like crazy when people find out they don't really have to pay the loans back. The TAXPAYERS will be stuck with the bill !!

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» gellero- Posted by: WitchyNy
» STUDENT LOAN SCAMS.... Posted by: gellero
» RE: STUDENT LOAN SCAMS.... Posted by: pdxstudent
» RE: gellero- Posted by: LeftCoastProgressive
» !!!! Posted by: gellero
Fantastic. I just got back from Maine, LOVED IT, but wondered...where are the jobs?
Posted by: veggiegrrrl on Jun 30, 2007 9:12 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Fantastic. I just got back from Maine, LOVED IT, but wondered...where are the jobs?

Most towns I visited were filled with pre-college kids or older than middle aged folks. Not too many 20, 30, and 40-somethings.

All these gorgeous communities and no sustainable employment....

Expensive housing but no way to pay for it...

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» Ever Ask Why ?? Posted by: gellero
» RE: ver Ask Why ?? Posted by: LeftCoastProgressive
» see above Posted by: gellero
» A New Government Posted by: gellero
NORTHERN Michigan, Dippy
Posted by: LeftCoastProgressive on Jun 30, 2007 11:43 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
NORTHERN Michigan, as opposed to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (ie., across the Mackinac Bridge) has historically had lumbering and commercial fishing among its most important industries. Logging is still important but at a mere fraction of its heyday output. You whack down all old growth trees you're not going to get much for 25 years. Mining? Upper Peninsula only! Commercial fishing is a minor activity.

A major draw to Northern Michigan is tourism. Real Estate, especially condominiums and summer homes, is another significant source of income. Because money spent in the real estate and tourism market in Northern Michigan is dependent upon visitors from southern Michigan and the Chicago area, the Northern Michigan economy is sensitive to swings in the auto industry and other auto manufacturing supporting industries.

And we all know what is happening to American auto manufacturing! They've got that SUV mentality and can't shed it. They and BIG OIL are so tight, one has to warn the other before making a turn.

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» SUV?? Posted by: gellero
College tuition: one more example of the loansharking frenzy
Posted by: thoughtcriminal on Jun 30, 2007 11:59 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It is nice to see that someone managed to make some positive change in this area.

However, instead of getting the state to pay off debt that the student took in in the form of loans, wouldn't it be better for the state to spend more money on education, so that tuition would be lower?

That way the state wouldn't be paying the interest to the credit agency, on top of the original loan amount.

The fact is that the $85 billion college loan industry is operating in the same manner as the subprime home lending business, or the credit card business. They are deliberately trying to saddle people with debt that will take decades to pay off. (That's also the main goal of the IMF/World Bank system, and of loansharkers in general).

As tutition costs rise and financial aid is held constant, students are forced to take out more loans. It's a giveaway to Bush's cronies. (see Bush's 2004 donors at Open Secrets. MBNA was just merged with Bank of America, making BofA/MBNA Bush's largest donor. All together, finance gave far more money to Bush than oil&gas did)

College Loan Squeeze Play, TPM

....the cost is up (in-state tuition and fees have increased by 35% in just five years--inflation adjusted) and grant aid hasn't picked up the difference. That combination pushes hundreds of thousands of students deep into debt to get their chance at the middle class.

Any notion that the student loan industry works for students and their families vanished in the scandals over lenders' giving money to college loan officials to steer business their way. Now education policy specialist Bob Shireman exposes another ugly side of the student loan industry: Leaked documents show what the private student loan businesses have been squeezing out of Congress. Unwilling to settle for lending money in a competitive market, the student loan companies have lobbied Congress for a special one-two punch--guarantees if student borrowers default on their loans and special exceptions to make the loans bankruptcy-proof.


To set turn people out of college already saddled with massive debt means that they will either default on their loans or spend years making payments - and that's money that could probably find better uses than going into a credit broker's pocket.

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Once Again: Everything for War, Nothing for the People
Posted by: sofla100 on Jun 30, 2007 8:57 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Why is it that when money is needed for fighting a war, or invading a country, nobody in government seems to question it? And yet, here we have massive unmet needs of the American people. Be it education, health care, etc., the list goes on and on. Well, if the money that has been and will be spent on Iraq would have instead gone to education, we could already have in place a program to pay for everyone's college expenses, and the same with health care. The problem is America's priorities. The system is in place and set-up just to accomodate the wishes of the corporate, well-moneyed elite. They don't worry about health care and education, they already have it or can buy all of it that they want. What they want, however, is "defense" at any cost. More money for the military, for star wars, for the Iraq war, etc. What a pity.

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Rethugs
Posted by: bob t on Jul 1, 2007 6:07 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Do we all remember that the republicans made Pell grants, for college education, more difficult to get. The Dems reversed what the rethugs had done. Then the stupid and vicious GWB in his usual rethug propaganda took credit for it in one of his 'non compos mentis' speechs he gave. And I'm sure the rethug voters believed him, the head thug.

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One small thing...
Posted by: claude on Jul 1, 2007 11:54 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
In the last paragraph... "This is a small story about a group of young people in one small state who are trying to sustain good local jobs in a rudderless global economy." While the author may not have meant geographically, Maine is the largest state in New England. Born and raised there I have residual pride to defend my "small state"!!!

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» RE: One small thing... Posted by: Joshua Holland
Barb
Posted by: barbbat on Jul 2, 2007 10:51 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Would anyone be interested in getting together a group to try to deal with student loans? I'm struggling with paying them off as are many others. There needs to be new laws. Social Security and Disability payments can be garnished, as well as wages. People are being forced into default and bankruptcy in addition to the horrible practices of these lenders. I think we need to mobilize.

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» RE: Barb Posted by: Jellocat
» RE: Barb Posted by: billfaster
Incredible!
Posted by: dark.jedi.knight on Jul 25, 2007 10:07 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
That's very impressive. I'm starting college this fall and I'm sure to be in debt soon

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