WS Chronicle

Forsyth GOP delegation should stand against amendments

To the Editor:

Foolishly I keep thinking our Forsyth County Republican delegation will appeal to their better selves and be compelled to take the moral high ground to speak loudly against all six ill-conceived N.C. constitutional amendments that trivialize the N.C. Constitution. Collectively, by refusing to override Governor Cooper’s veto, these three elected officials could still set an example to their fellow Republican legislators across the state. It is impossible to believe the Republican supermajority fully endorses these superfluous amendments, and imagine what a positive impact our delegation could have by boldly speaking out against power-grabbing measures. Given the example, other county delegations may follow suit.

Yes, legislation by the party in power could be questioned and challenged by any of our 100 county delegations, but I keep hoping Forsyth’s Senator [Joyce] Krawiec, and Representatives [Debra] Conrad and [Donny] Lambeth will finally take a courageous, daring stance to oppose last Tuesday’s costly “Deception Session.” All three of these public officials are bound to inherently know it is wrong to support this foolish, corrupt legislation, and fortunately each can soon be replaced at the ballot box. Shame on these local legislators for continuing to put party above people. 

This delegation (Krawiec, Conrad, and Lambeth) has chosen to be political pawns rather than heroes for democracy. For too long their votes have reflected pettiness and ruthlessness rather than courage and character. Let’s see if they choose to redeem themselves by supporting our governor, who was elected in a statewide election, not in partisan, gerrymandered districts.

Anne Griffis Wilson

Winston-Salem

New bill tackles transparency in student loan debt crisis

To the Editor:

For too long, for-profit colleges have failed to serve the educational purpose for which they were intended. The combination of high-costs and low graduation rates by these bad actors have resulted in unfair burdens for student borrowers and taxpayers.  This bill improves accountability for all higher education institutions and creates a sensible path to fix our broken student loan repayment system.

The bill also recognizes the important role of states in ensuring higher education quality and accountability. Acknowledging that states are well-equipped to monitor and regulate institutions, the proposal shifts some responsibilities currently held by accreditors to their purview. Given recent efforts to unlawfully thwart state authority to hold institutions and servicers accountable, CRL applauds this effort to increase, rather than decrease, the states’ role in higher education.

While much remains to be done to address the burgeoning student debt crisis, this bill would go a long way toward ensuring meaningful access for all students to receive high quality, higher education options. It represents an important and comprehensive path forward for current borrowers, future students, the nation’s long-term economic competitive posture, and taxpayers who make it possible.

Ashley Harrington, Counsel

Center for Responsible Lending

Washington, D.C.

Note: On July 24, U.S. Representative Bobby Scott (Va.–03), ranking member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, introduced the Aim Higher Act, a bill to make higher education institutions – particularly for-profit colleges – more accountable and transparent to the public. The legislation also includes resources to boost college financial aid support programs for low-income students and improves the current loan repayment system.  Across the country, 44 million consumers share the still-growing burden of $1.5 trillion in student loan debt.