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Candidates fill inboxes with fundraising appeals

By WTOP Staff

DAVID ESPO
AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Marco Rubio hopes everyone’s summer is off to a good start. Please send money.

Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is working on a constitutional amendment to negate a Supreme Court ruling on political activity by independent groups. In the meantime, please send money.

Rick Weiland, a Democrat running for the Senate in South Dakota, would like $9, please. Many other candidates in both parties would settle for $5.

Welcome to the unending, inbox-clogging world of online campaign fundraising, set against a backdrop of Monday’s Federal Election Commission deadline for candidates to disclose their campaign finances. The more an office-seeker reports having in the bank, the more there is available for the fall campaign. But it’s not just the money that counts, it’s the appearance of it.

“In just 15 hours, I’ll have to close the books on our second quarter FEC report,” wrote Jenny Nadicksbernd, finance director for Sen. Mark Warner. “That report will be looked at by Karl Rove and his special interest pals to see if they should launch attacks against” the Virginia Democrat, she added.

It’s not only candidates for federal offices.

Jason Carter, a Democrat running for governor of Georgia, helpfully posted a clock on his emailed request for cash. That way everyone would know exactly how much time was left — down to the second — to reach Carter’s target of $50,000 before his self-imposed midnight deadline.

Nor is it just a simple request for money. Candidates and independent organizations have a series of pleadings, tailored to the political leanings of their donor targets.

Republican fundraisers favor unflattering mentions of President Barack Obama or Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The appeal from Rubio’s political action committee, Reclaim America, mentioned both, and still found room to send along best wishes for the hot weather months. “I hope your summer is off to a great start, but it’s hard to enjoy our time with family and friends when we see one scandal after another emerging from Washington, DC,” it said. “The Obama Administration just can’t seem to shoot straight, and they’re aided every step of the way by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.”

For Democrats, it’s the Koch brothers, who oversee a constellation of organizations devoted to electing Republicans and repealing the nation’s health care law.

Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley, running for a Senate seat in Iowa, set a $65,000 goal for midnight. “Special interests backed by the likes of the Koch Brothers have already spent more than $2 million” in the state, the pleading said. “They’re not going to let up till the last poll closes (in) Nov. and neither can we.”

Brown, D-Ohio, cited a recent Supreme Court ruling loosening the rules on political activity for outside groups and said he hopes the justices will come to their senses.

In the meantime: “While we’re working on a Constitutional amendment in the Senate, grassroots campaigns like ours need to prepare. Help us stay strong by making a $5 contribution before the FEC deadline.”

In some cases, the requests take on the trappings of a holiday sale at a clothing or cosmetics store.

“Contribute by 11:59 p.m. tonight, and I’ll triple-match whatever you give,” said an appeal sent out by Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “That means every dollar you give becomes $4.”

In case anyone missed Portman’s request, the NRSC followed up with a chaser. “All contributions today are triple matched by Sen. Rob Portman,” it said.

Not everyone can be so original.

Braley and Rick Weiland either had the same thought or have the same fundraising consultants.

“With only 15 hours to go before our $65,000 FEC deadline, this is where our grassroots rubber meets the road. Contribute $5 or more right now to make sure we get there before midnight tonight,” said one of Braley’s fundraising emails Monday.

Weiland’s was strikingly similar: “With only 14 hours to go before our FEC deadline, this is where our grassroots rubber meets the road. Contribute $9 or more right now to make sure we get there before midnight tonight.”

Judging by her own email, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. is no mere candidate. “Thank you for joining this movement,” she wrote as part of one appeal.

Republican Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana is in a far different category, midway through his first term and without a Democratic opponent for 2016.

But his request sounds no less urgent than Shaheen’s.

“The Indiana Democratic Party is actively recruiting candidates to run for governor. … As a statement of support, would you be willing to contribute a minimum of just $5?”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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