O’Malley Just Unveiled His Plan to End Student Debt, and It’s the Boldest One Yet

[bigtree]

On Wednesday, Democratic presidential hopeful Martin O'Malley released a proposal for tackling the student debt crisis that entails more sweeping reforms of the American higher education system than Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) plan for free tuition at public colleges.

The former Maryland governor, who has taken on more than $300,000 in debt to pay for college for two of his four children, has made the idea of "debt-free college" the centerpiece of his education policy vision.

"Debt-free" might not sound as sexy as simply "free," but O'Malley's approach could in fact create a more effective mandate for radically reducing the cost of college in the United States. That's because Sanders' focus on tuition diverts attention away from a vital part of the equation — costs for everything out of the classroom, from housing to text books.

"Debt-free college is in many ways more progressive than offering free tuition, since non-tuition costs make up well over half of what students pay, and take on debt, for," Mark Huelsman, a senior policy analyst at the think tank Demos, told Mic.

O'Malley's proposal lacks some important details, such as the price tag of the reforms and how he expects to find the required funds, but it's bold set of ideas certain to advance the Democratic conversation on one of the critical policy battlegrounds of 2016.


read more: http://mic.com/articles/121935/martin-omalley-just-unveiled-the-boldest-plan-to-end-student-debt

related:

Martin O’Malley racked up $339,200 in loans putting two kids through college. He wants to lighten the load for others
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/07/08/martin-omalley-racked-up-339200-in-loans-putting-two-kids-through-college-he-wants-to-lighten-the-load-for-others/

Martin O'Malley Calls For Debt-Free College Within 5 Years
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251431444

Martin O'Malley to lay out plan for reducing college costs, student debt burdens
http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2015/07/08/omalley-to-lay-out-plan-for-debt-free-college

NEA named Maryland’s Martin O’Malley ‘America’s Greatest Education Governor’ in 2010
http://www.nea.org/home/40032.htm



Martin O'Malley ‏@MartinOMalley 3m3 minutes ago
Thanks @BoldProgressive @Demos_org for supporting my plan to provide debt-free college for every student.



Here's Martin O'Malley's detailed plan to make higher education affordable, accessible & accountable
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251431537#post8

[pennylane100]

1. I like everything I have read about Martin O'Malley.

He seems very progressive. I like all the candidates that are running in our party, so far. While, at this time I am pretty sure I will vote for Bernie, it is heartening to know that we have a decent amount of progressive people in our party. I feel sorry that they cannot all win but at least the actual winner will have a good selection to choose from when picking her/his cabinet.

[FSogol]

2. I like everything about his plan. This country needs it. K&R. n/t

[Lisa D]

3. I'd love to see this happen.

Too many college graduates are drowning in debt.

[elleng]

4. Great to see this here, bigtree.

[Andy823]

5. K&R

We need to keep these posts bumped so more people can read them.

[1StrongBlackMan]

6. I'm liking this guy's plans. n/t

[Sheepshank]

7. I have a FT college student that has exorbidant living expenses

I really like this "thinking out of the box" idea to address the full expenses of college. We don't expect to get $300,000 in debt, but any debt is harmful to getting careers off the ground for these new graduates.

[heaven05]

8. I hope

the details of this plan can be worked out to the benefit of struggling middle and lower income families with children who deserve and are academically able to attend a college/university. Will be watching how it gets fleshed out.

[FSogol]

9. The details of the plan are posted here:

https://martinomalley.com/the-latest/make-college-debt-free/

To address your specific concerns:

Help Low- and Middle-Income Students Cover Non-Tuition Costs

Debt-free college must apply to all college costs, not just tuition. But room and board is roughly double the cost of tuition on average. This brings the total cost of attendance up to nearly $19,000 a year for in-state students at four-year public universities. And federal support has not kept pace: while Pell Grants once covered nearly 70% of the cost of college for low-income students, they now cover only a third.

Increase Pell Grants. Pell Grants and state grants should be increased to cover the bulk of non-tuition costs for students who otherwise couldn’t afford them.

Expand and Modernize Work-Study. The need-based federal work-study program should be tripled so that at least two million students can participate. The program would be redesigned to make placements career-focused, and to better support low- and middle-income, part-time, and mid-career students. It will be essential to ensure the program hours are equitable and do not create additional economic hardship or detract from a quality education.

Lots more at the provided link.

[heaven05]

10. thanks

[FSogol]

11. Anytime. n/t

[hifiguy]

12. Kick.

I am liking this guy more and more.

[rpannier]

16. Me too

The more I hear/read, the more I like

[Initech]

13. Sanders / O'Malley would destroy any republican ticket.

[Ed Suspicious]

14. yes.

[Andy823]

17. As would

Say an O'Malley / Sanders ticket. Just saying.

[rpannier]

15. Love it

I also believe he would be great at implementing it
Having been a governor surely helps
Also, being near DC he is familiar with the pitfalls

[Agschmid]

18. Kick.

[brooklynite]

19. "lacks some important details....."

...like how to pay for it.

[Andy823]

20. you might want to check out this link

Martin O'Malley to lay out plan for reducing college costs, student debt burdens.

http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2015/07/08/omalley-to-lay-out-plan-for-debt-free-college

He explains a lot at the link about his plan.