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Some Wyoming lawyers upset about Cheney speech

By WTOP Staff

BEN NEARY
Associated Press

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Former Vice President Dick Cheney can be a polarizing figure even six years out of office.

The Wyoming State Bar invited Cheney, a prominent Republican with deep Wyoming ties, to be keynote speaker at its annual convention next week.

Some lawyers are objecting — both to Cheney’s selection and to how the bar announced his appearance.

The state bar is a quasi-governmental entity that administers the legal profession using some taxpayer money. In its announcement of Cheney’s speech, it published an unedited biography submitted by Cheney in which he criticized President Barack Obama, saying he weakened the United States’ security posture.

The biography submitted by Cheney noted that he and former President George W. Bush left office in January 2009.

“Shortly thereafter, President Obama began to dismantle the security policies that had kept the nation safe,” the Cheney biography stated. “His policy decisions have led to a reversal of the gains America made in the war on terror in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan, and a weakening of America across the globe.”

Sharon Wilkinson, executive director of the state bar, said Cheney’s office provided the biographical information and that the bar ran it without editing it.

The latest edition of the state bar magazine, Wyoming Lawyer, featured an apology from the bar for running Cheney’s material.

“Certain remarks that appeared in Vice President Cheney’s biography in the annual meeting registration materials have prompted expressions of concern from several members who viewed those comments as inappropriate for a Wyoming State Bar publication,” said the editor’s note in the magazine. It said the bar would re-examine its longstanding practice of running speakers’ biographical materials without editing them.

Wilkinson said the bar heard from a handful of lawyers who said they wouldn’t attend the convention because of its choice of Cheney as keynote speaker. “And as you can imagine, many are thrilled with our choice and are looking forward to attending,” she said.

Cheyenne lawyer and Democratic state legislator Mary Throne is among those who say they won’t attend.

“Obviously, I have a lot of respect for the office of vice president and his service to Wyoming,” Throne said of Cheney. “It does seem an odd choice for a bar banquet. Traditionally, it’s somebody with a legal background, and not someone who’s so active in politics, frankly. So, I do not plan on attending the banquet.”

William McKellar, a Cheyenne lawyer, is past president of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association. He said there was an active online discussion among association members about the choice of Cheney.

“A lot of the attorneys that were members of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association expressed disappointment, concern, whatever, regarding Dick Cheney’s appearance at the Wyoming State Bar feeling that it was inappropriate,” McKellar said.

“I took exception to those comments,” McKellar said. “I’m not a dyed-in-the-wool Dick Cheney supporter. On the other hand, I think he’s a great American and has done a great service for the United States and the state of Wyoming, and I think it’s totally appropriate and proper for Vice President Cheney to come and speak at an association such as the Wyoming State Bar Convention.”

McKellar said he believes that if Obama were coming to address the convention, “there would have been no objections raised whatsoever.”

Riverton lawyer Jeff Stanbury said he believes the state bar had the best of intentions in inviting Cheney to speak.

“I fully recognize the state bar’s desire to have such a high-profile speaker, particularly from our state,” Stanbury said, adding that no one should be prevented from speaking on the basis of their political views.

“What I do take issue with is the statement in the biography making a declaration which is very debatable as though it is fact and present it as though it’s on behalf of the state bar and its members who are part of that association,” Stanbury said.

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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