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Michigan’s only gubernatorial debate grows testy

By WTOP Staff

DAVID EGGERT
Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) — Republican Gov. Rick Snyder appealed for a second term during a debate Sunday by pointing to Michigan’s economic turnaround and Detroit’s progress toward emerging from bankruptcy, while Democratic challenger Mark Schauer accused Snyder of cutting education funding and criticized him for raising taxes on retirees.

In their only debate before the Nov. 4 election, the sparring grew testy on issues such as taxes, state and local finances, and the candidates’ political experience. Recent polls showed Snyder, a former computer executive and venture capitalist, with a slight edge over Schauer, a former congressman and state lawmaker.

Snyder told an audience of roughly 100 uncommitted voters at Wayne State University in Detroit — and many more watching on TV — that backing a state emergency manager’s decision to take Detroit into bankruptcy was the “right decision” and “one of the toughest decisions to be made in the United States.”

“Look at where we are today. We’re within a month to two months most likely of coming out of bankruptcy” and shedding $9 billion in Detroit liabilities, Snyder said of the largest-ever U.S. municipal bankruptcy.

Schauer said he would never have allowed retiree pensions be cut. A centerpiece to the Detroit debt restructuring plan is an agreement for foundations, businesses and the state to contribute more than $800 million to soften cuts to pensions.

“Our (state) constitution is clear. Pensions are guaranteed,” Schauer said.

Snyder countered that workers and retirees approved the pension cuts that were essential to the so-called “grand bargain” that may allow Detroit to shed debt.

Schauer stood by his assertion that Snyder cut more than $1 billion in overall education funding and blasted a measure passed under Snyder to tax the retirement income of pensioners.

“Rick cut taxes for businesses by $1.8 billion,” Schauer said. “He raised taxes on working families, low-wage earners and yes — on pensioners — by $1.4 billion.”

Snyder said state-based K-12 spending is up more than $1 billion from when he took office and defended the 2011 tax overhaul, saying owners of small- and medium-sized businesses were wrongly taxed on business and individual income. The changes made the system fairer, he said.

Schauer fired back: “Our accountant governor is missing some columns on his spreadsheet and it’s called people.”

During the town hall-style debate hosted by Detroit Public Television and moderated by editorial page editors from the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News, Snyder was asked about a pending federal appeals court decision on Michigan’s gay marriage ban.

“I will respect what happens in our court system,” he said, declining to give his personal stance on same-sex marriage. He opposed gay marriage in his 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

Schauer, who supports gay marriage, said voters deserve to know where Snyder stands, and he criticized the governor for signing a law banning benefits for the same-sex partners of state employees.

The candidates also sparred over their political experience. Schauer said the “CEO governor” who never held public office before winning election in 2010 does not know how to work with the Republican-led Legislature. Snyder said Schauer was a legislative leader when the state government was briefly shut down during a 2007 budget crisis and suggested he would return “Washington” gridlock to Lansing, the state’s capital.

There was no discussion over another of the major laws Snyder signed, a right-to-work measure that made it voluntary for unionized employees to pay union dues and which Democrats are hoping will mobilize their voter base to oust Snyder.

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Follow David Eggert on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00

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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