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Rose Li: Why You Should Vote For Me

By WTOP Staff

Rose Li, candidate for House of Delegates in District 16We asked Republican candidates vying to represent District 16 in the House of Delegates to write a sub-750 word essay describing why residents should vote for them on Nov. 4.

First is Rose Li. Below is Li’s unedited response:

Montgomery County receives only 20 cents back for every dollar we send to Annapolis while richer Howard County gets back 30 cents. The average county gets 55 cents.

What does this inequity mean? The simple answer: a growing burden on Montgomery County residents.

Montgomery County has legitimate claim to its fair share of state funding.  Currently our residents contribute 27 percent of the total tax revenue to the state coffers. No wonder we’re known as Maryland’s ATM. At the same time, we are faced with the need to support the increasing diversity and resource deficiencies in our schools, a transit network strained at the seams, county services that are under-funded, residents who are over-taxed and moving to neighboring states, and many other challenges.

I am running for Delegate in this election as a referendum to determine if we will continue with the status quo or begin to effect real change at the State level. My PUT MONTGOMERY COUNTY FIRST is a pledge to fight to apportion the resources to meet our needs.

I will deliver the strong representation needed in Annapolis for us to get our fair share of funding to meet Montgomery County’s growing demands. And stronger representation is indeed what we need.

The record of the Montgomery County delegation is clear: it shows that they have grown beholden to the Democratic Party’s leadership, instead of to the interests of Montgomery County residents. The reason: they assume re-election.

Even prominent Democrats have made this observation. As we all know, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The Washington Post Editorial Board summed it up nicely when it proclaimed: “One-party rule by the Democrats is not healthy.”

In District 16, there has not been a Republican delegate for 28 years. I am running on a solid platform of fiscal discipline at the state level and the effective promotion of the interests of my constituents, if they honor me by electing me to the office.

I am running a truly grassroots campaign — because I believe power truly resides with the people. I talk daily to voters and hear their concerns. I address those worries with real solutions that resonate with people of all political stripes. They embrace my PUT MONTGOMERY COUNTY FIRST platform for what it is: my promise of strong representation, good governance, and accountability. This is what the people demand, and certainly what we deserve. It transcends party affiliation.

I have been endorsed by the Washington Post (October 22). The Washington Post pointed to me as a credible Republican candidate running in a competitive race. I am not a professional politician, but rather a concerned citizen who cares deeply about my community and the state of Maryland. I believe that we must employ metrics to judge the effectiveness of programs and make decisions based on evidence.

I have successfully run my science management and research administration business for over 11 years. Before founding my business, I served as a branch chief at the National Institute on Aging and as a project officer at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, both at the National Institutes of Health. I am also past president of the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni. I regularly work with colleagues from diverse disciplines to define the challenges, evaluate the available evidence, and develop sensible solutions. These skills are transferable to serving as an effective legislator.

I’m a longtime resident of Bethesda, married for 24 years, with two children who have benefited from our public school system. I earned by BA and MBA from the University of Chicago, and my PhD from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School. My past experiences, training, and education have all contributed to preparing me to be an effective and committed legislator.

I am running to give Montgomery County what it needs — strong representation in Annapolis. I am also running to give Maryland what it needs: a real competition of ideas at the state level that can generate a better way forward.

Please see my website to learn more: www.voteRoseLi.com

Thanks for your consideration and your vote!

Follow the link for the essay from District 16 candidate Marc Korman, submitted before the Democratic primary in June. Democrats Bill Frick and Ariana Kelly are also running for District 16′s three seats in the House of Delegates.

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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