Congress sends student loan and transportation package to Obama

[Shadow]

Congress ended months of partisan bickering on Friday by passing and sending to President Barack Obama a comprehensive extension of highway and infrastructure projects, along with a one-year extension of low student loan rates that were set to double.The House voted 373 to 52 to approve a $120 billion, 27-month bill to fund highway projects. Attached to that bill was the student loan extension, which prevented rates from doubling from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on July 1.
The Senate approved the package shortly thereafter in a 74-19 vote. The legislation now heads to the White House for the president's signature.
The package lumps together some of the biggest stumbling blocks to beguile lawmakers in the past few months. Squabbling over how to finance each priority had divided the Republican-controlled House and the Democratic-run Senate.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/29/12483144-congress-sends-student-loan-and-transportation-package-to-obama?lite

[Roo]

I need to reread the Student Loan portion of Obamacare....I can't remember what it covers.

[Shadow]

Here is another article on this...

Congress Approves a $127 Billion Transportation and Student Loan Package

Congress gave final approval on Friday to legislation that combines a two-year transportation (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/t/transportation/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) measure with bills to extend subsidized student loans (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/student_loans/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) and revamp federal flood insurance, wrapping up a bruising session with measures that will be popular on the campaign trail.

The final $127 billion package angered fiscal conservatives and liberal environmentalists alike, but leaders in both parties — along with many rank-and-file lawmakers — wanted to put the issues behind them. Exhausted members of both parties pointed to the legislation as a tonic for the ailing job market, as well as proof that an unpopular Congress could get something done. The House passed it by 373 to 52, the Senate by 74 to 19. All the no votes were by Republicans.
“When all is said and done, this bill is what it is,” said Representative Nick J. Rahall II, a West Virginia Democrat who was one of the senior negotiators. “It means jobs.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/30/us/politics/congress-approves-transportation-and-student-loan-package.html?_r=1&smid=tw-nytimesbusiness

I like this comment...



“When all is said and done, this bill is what it is,” said Representative Nick J. Rahall II, a West Virginia Democrat who was one of the senior negotiators. “It means jobs.”



Suurrre it does. :rolleyes: