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NJ Gov. Chris Christie visits South Carolina

By WTOP Staff

BRUCE SMITH
Associated Press

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chis Christie stayed coy Tuesday about any presidential plans as he raised campaign cash for GOP candidates in North and South Carolina.

In Charleston, as Christie and Gov. Nikki Haley stopped to meet voters in a crowded grill, Christie was asked if he would be back to South Carolina, home of his party’s first-in-the-South presidential primary.

“I’ll be coming back as many times as Gov. Haley wants me to come back in the next 49 days” before Nov. 4, when voters choose their candidates for governor, the House and the Senate. “Then after that we will see what happens.”

On his first visit to the state as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Christie stayed in moderate Charleston, in contrast to other potential GOP candidates who made early visits to conservatives elsewhere.

The Republican Governors Association said that the organization has raised $75 million while Christie has served as chairman and by the end of the week he will have attended events in 28 states and the District of Columbia.

Earlier in the day, he attended a private fundraiser in Wilmington, North Carolina for state House Speaker Thom Tillis, who is trying to unseat Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan in November.

Christie appeared with Tillis at a downtown restaurant, amid protesters outside who are upset with the state for slashing the North Carolina’s film incentives. There were protesters across the street in Charleston as well, protesting Haley’s failure to expand Medicaid in South Carolina, something Christie has done in New Jersey.

“You don’t treat all states the same,” Haley said. “We did what was right for South Carolina and he did what was right for New Jersey.”

“We support each other because we believe our jobs are to serve the people of our states, not have some monolithic policy that comes out of Washington, D.C.,” Christie added.

South Carolina has long been a key to winning the GOP nomination.

Although Newt Gingrich won the state’s presidential primary two years ago, for the 30 years before the primary winner always went on to win the GOP nomination.

As a Northeastern governor, Christie would have much to prove to South Carolina voters who are generally more conservative than in voters in New Jersey.

A steady stream of other potential 2016 Republican presidential hopefuls have made trips to South Carolina recently, with most visiting more conservative upstate South Carolina.

Last month, Texas Gov. Rick Perry attended a football game between his alma mater, Texas A&M, and the University of South Carolina in Columbia as part of a two-day visit. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida attended a barbecue held by Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., in the upstate city of Anderson. The event has become a go-to stop for Republicans with national political aspirations.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has also made several trips to South Carolina while Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was in Columbia for a fundraiser Monday.

______

Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report from Newark, N.J.

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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