EVENT ORIGINALLY BROADCAST: September 18, 2006 Within the next two weeks, the US Department of Educations Inspector General is expected to release an audit of the Nelnet Corporation, a major student loan provider, recommending that it be ordered to repay hundreds millions of dollars in taxpayer subsidy payments to the US Treasury and halt additional, future subsidy billings estimated to exceed .3 billion. At issue are subsidy payments guaranteeing Nelnet and other student loan companies a 9.5 percent rate of return for student loans originally issued at interest rates as low as 3.5 percent. Congress thought it got rid of the 9.5 percent guarantee in 1993, but due to a legislative loophole and lax federal oversight, the subsidy continued and grew exponentially over the last several years. At this New America event, the Bush Administration whistleblower who originally reported the 9.5 percent loan scandal to Congress and the media told his side of the story in his first-ever public appearance. In addition, Raza Khan, President and Co-Founder of student loan provider MyRichUncle, discussed additional taxpayer subsidies in the federal student loan program and how lenders use the extra money in ways that might or might not be in the best interests of students and families. Doug Lederman, editor of Inside Higher Ed, responded to the remarks of both speakers. www.newamerica.net
Trailer provides a sampling of our efforts (Student Loan Tricksters) to expose the corrupt world of student educational loans and how these lenders, and our own government, are destroying hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Full documentary to follow.
President Obama discusses revamping government college loan programs. For more news video by Current TV visit current.com VIEW more Obama videos & SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube playlist here… www.youtube.com
We know that a government student loan monopoly is just right for you. After all, what could go wrong with politicians owning everything? Warning: May cause hilarity.
March 24 (Bloomberg) — Michael Taiano, an analyst with Sandler O’Neill, talks with Bloomberg’s Margaret Brennan about the impact of legislation overhauling student lending on companies like SLM Corp., known as Sallie Mae, banks and nonprofit lenders. Under the plan attached to the health-care bill and passed by the House of Representatives, a billion federal program that subsidizes private student loans would end and the loans would be made directly by the government. The House amendments now go to the Senate. (Source: Bloomberg)
