The Mankato Free Press: Students need debt relief
A day after Tim Walz spoke out for a more comprehensive approach to reforming the cost of higher education, the Free Press's editorial board encourages Congress and the state legislature to work toward reducing student debt:
After years of skyrocketing tuition and hikes in interest rates on many loans, college students are graduating with ever higher debt loads, often with high interest rates on the repayments.
The trend needs to be reversed quickly and it will take action by both the state Legislature and Congress.
Fortunately, incoming lawmakers in St. Paul and Washington, D.C., seem aware of the depth of the problem and willing to tackle it.
Graduating from college with some debt is appropriate. Post-secondary education is a good investment, with graduates consistently earning significantly higher wages throughout their lives than non-graduates.
But the debt load is climbing, with a typical undergraduate borrowing $17,500 by the time he or she finishes four years. Minnesota students’ average debt is even higher at $20,560.
Democratic leaders poised to take control of Congress say they’d like to cut the interest rate on student loans in half. The measure would save nearly $6,000 for the average student by dropping the interest rate from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent.
The move would cost about $18 billion over five years, money congressional leaders say they will find by returning to pay-as-you-go rules that cut overall government spending and by ending subsidies to large oil companies.
The reduction in loan interest rates is part of the solution, increasing Pell Grants to students is also necessary. The grant program has been trimmed over the years and needs to be restored.
On the state level, lawmakers have a variety of ideas, including increasing funding to colleges and universities, with a related limit on how much colleges can increase their tuition each year.
The state has retreated too far on its commitment to higher education. The state once paid about 60 percent of college costs, but now are covering closer to only 40 percent, driving tuition costs up, often by double digit increases.
Making college affordable to middle class families is an issue that touches nearly everyone. Affordable post-secondary education — be it two-year technical training or four-year university degrees — not only helps families but businesses and the state’s economy and tax base.
Lawmakers on the state and national levels need to keep the promises they are making to make college a reality for more people without students assuming crippling debt.
New Ulm Journal: Does Seifert support a more progressive tax structure?
Reading an article about the new minority leader's predictions for the coming session, we were surprised to find this statement:
He predicted a higher state sales and gasoline taxes, both of which, he added, are regressive (not based on taxpayer’s ability to pay).
Does this mean Seifert is willing to make Minnesota's state tax structure more progressive?
At least Seifert's understanding of the state's new political geography is improving. Several weeks ago he was complaining about DFL leadership being Minneapolis-bound, but he has now expanded his view:
“If the Democrats are united, bills should pass by quickly, but we shouldn’t raise taxes and grow government just for its own sake. Republicans will be the speed bumps in the road,” said Seifert.
“We have the power of the bully pulpit,” he added. “Bills can be vetoed, reworded and improved. I just hope we don’t get run over by urban liberals and the Iron Range, which tends to control things.”
Give him time: perhaps by session's opening in January, Representative Seifert will have learned that Ranger Tony Sertich will be assisted by Tina Liebling, Rochester, one of six assistant leaders. Aaron Peterson of nearby Madison is another member of that team, as is Frank Moe. Gene Pelowski of Winona has a bit of seniority. too.
From the looks of this map, Seifert is confusing the Republican inability to get candidates elected from the Cities and the Range and his party's former domination of other rural districts, with the new geography, including that in those two congressional districts which Senate District 21 straddles .The map has changed in the First and Seventh, as has control of rural, agricultural parts of the Second and the Eighth.
But at least Seifert can be praised for his extended metaphors, whatever trouble he might have with locating DFL house members on a map. In a linguistic cocktail worthy of William Shakespeare, Seifert compares his caucus to speed bumps, a position of authority, and roadkill.
Worthington Daily Globe: More ICE raids coverage
The Globe reports that public outpouring of sympathy for immigrant workers has filled the local food shelf's pantry:
Food shelves often struggle to meet needs, but Manna Food Pantry is gratefully wrestling with sudden abundance after seven tons of supplies were delivered to Worthington Sunday.
Those supplies came from St. Paul, the result of community support for immigrants affected by last week’s immigration sweep at Swift & Co. More donations have come from St. Peter and Marshall.
“We have been swamped,” said Manna coordinator Gene Foth.
According to Foth, 60 families representing 240 people came for help the first day after the raid. On Friday, 400 people received help.
By the time Saturday was over, Foth had lost track of the number of people who received help from the food pantry.
More shipments have arrived since.
“This morning, we had a shipment from Casa Guadalupana House of Hospitality in St. Paul,” Foth said. “We’re trying to coordinate to put everything here so that if people need it, they know where to come.”
Normally, five volunteers work at Manna Food Pantry, but now, 10 to 15 are required to cope with the extra distribution and demand.
Sunday’s seven-ton shipment came from the Twin Cities, after radio station La Invasora of the Latino Communications Network made on-air announcements asking for donations every half hour.
The supplies were initially sent to Comunidad Cristiana de Worthington Church, but they will be transported to the Manna Food Pantry this morning by volunteers.
“We are not planning to receive any food donations,” said Comunidad Cristiana pastor Hector Andrade. “We are trying to tell people to donate to the food pantry, and we are helping them to distribute the food over there.”
The church is also accepting monetary donations supporting families left without a full-time worker. They won’t be given money directly, but will be able to bring their bills to the church to have them paid.
Although seven tons of supplies may sound sufficient for a community Worthington’s size, many people still need help.
“Right now, there is a lot of need for laundry detergent, diapers, wipes, formula, milk, juice, rice, eggs and beans,” Andrade said.
Foth encourages landlords going through homes people have suddenly left to donate any canned food left behind.
“There’s no reason for them to throw it in the garbage when there are other people that could use it,” Foth said.
Sharon Johnson of the Nobles County Integration Collaborative has helped arrange interpreters for coordinators and food distributors. Some food is being delivered directly to people.
“It’s rather overwhelming, but the Lord’s been with us, and we’ve had some tremendously good volunteers who come help,” Foth said. “That makes my job easier.”
People getting food from the pantry need to meet poverty guidelines and fill out a form. Manna Food Pantry normally serves about 1,000 people a month.
“I would really like to thank God for what is happening, because if it weren’t for these problems, I wouldn’t have met so many nice, kind, loving, compassionate people in this town that I continue to say is my hometown and a town that I love,” Andrade said.
The paper profiles a Texan who started working to for community unity upon moving to Worthington:
When Roberto Ramirez left southern Texas to come to Worthington a little more than a month ago, he immediately noticed the division in the community. And he made it his goal to do what he could to change it.
“My goal is to bring the Hispanic community closer, to become part of the community,” he said.
He started tentative dialogues with some of the city leaders about how to do just that. Then came the Swift sweeps.
“I don’t condone it,” he said of illegal immigration. “But I do understand it.”
Ramirez was born a U.S. citizen, but his wife was not. It took many years and a lot of money for her to earn that status. Ramirez said the average person doesn’t understand how hard it is to become a U.S. citizen, whether from the United States illegally or from a home country.
“It can cost $5,000 to $8,000 in attorney fees just to send in an application,” he said, adding that many people who scrape up the fees needed to apply fall prey to unscrupulous people who take the money and run. . . .
Of 230 people arrested in the raids, only 15 have been charged with aggravated identity theft. A total of twenty people have been indicted.
Today's editorial in the Globe vows that the paper will look at the range of insights and emotions evoked and provoked by the raids:
Ever since the U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) action at Swift & Co. one week ago today, there’s been no shortage of conversation — and debate — on a multitude of topics related to what transpired at Worthington’s largest employer.
It’s been our desire as a newspaper to cover this story thoroughly; we also realize a critical component of the fallout from Swift events is the resulting emotional debate that’s ensued. That’s why, in addition to speaking to everyone from community leaders to law enforcement officials to representatives of the immigrant community, we’ve invited readers to share their opinions online.
At a future date — with consent of people who have posted opinions on the talk links at www.dglobe.com — we hope to present a sampling of the comments in our print edition. A quick glance of the Web site reveals a variety of viewpoints and outlooks, a fact not unexpected considering what’s happened. We at the Globe are appreciative of those who have taken the time to express their thoughts, as by doing so they are contributing to an important discussion occurring not just in Worthington but around the country.
It’s not difficult to observe by reading some of the online comments that ICE’s action has provoked a number of powerful feelings. Among these (and none specifically represent our opinion): Swift workers and the families were treated unfairly; ICE did what needed to be done; Swift is contributing to the problem; Congress desperately needs to do something with immigration policy ... there is, of course, more. While keeping in mind this is an online forum, it’s interesting to note the thoughtful nature of some of the comments and the more argumentative nature of others. This difference, of course, can be attributed to the multitude of issues that surround illegal immigration in itself.
We are hopeful — and confident — our community can overcome the hurt feelings and division last week’s actions have undoubtedly caused. Already there is hope: Many in and out of Worthington are contributing with food and cash donations to families who are suddenly struggling. This is a good starting point, but a starting point nevertheless.
A few months ago, this page contained several letters about the community of Worthington, and what was perceived to be its strengths and weaknesses. There remain many positive attributes to this city, and we hope people will come together and make the most of them. Perhaps another dialogue — this time online — can play a small role.
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