Pottstown Patch - George Badey Challenges Congressman Pat Meehan to Do the Right Thing on Skyrocketing Student Loan Rates

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By Mike Dineen

George Badey, candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania's Seventh District, today called on incumbent Congressman Patrick Meehan to stand up for Pennsylvania college students and families and work to stop student loan interest rates from doubling by July 1. The impending spike would raise the cost of college for nearly 400,000 Pennsylvania students and their families. The rate increase would saddle Pennsylvania students with an additional $321,894,073 in loans. Two-thirds of all college students graduate with student loan debt, and the average college graduate has $25,000 in student loan debt.

"If Congress doesn't act now, student loan rates will double on July 1st," said George Badey. "This is a time when we desperately need leadership in Congress. Will Pat Meehan stand up for the nearly 400,000 Pennsylvania college students and their families who will be hit hard by this increase, or will he continue to play partisan politics in Washington while leaving hard-working families here at home to fend for themselves?"

Congressman Meehan voted on March 29,2012, for the Ryan Budget Plan, which increases the interest rate for Stafford loans to 6.8 percent on July 1st, 2010. The House of Representatives is set to vote this afternoon on a Republican proposal to keep interest rates at 3.4 percent for another year, financing the plan by slashing preventative health care measures.

"Pat Meehan voted for the budget that allows the loan rate to double on July 1st," Badey continued. "Now he and his cronies insist that the only way to fix what they've broken is to pay for it by slashing preventative health care programs. I call on Pat Meehan to stand up for Pennsylvania families and stop playing politics with their personal and financial health."

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