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Rubio: Democrats threaten American dream

By WTOP Staff

STEVE PEOPLES
Associated Press

NEW CASTLE, N.H. (AP) — Reaffirming his national political ambitions, Sen. Marco Rubio accused Democrats on Friday of threatening the American dream as he campaigned across New Hampshire, appearing in the first-in-the-nation presidential primary state for the first time in 18 months.

The Florida Republican also jabbed at former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, considered the overwhelming favorite to win the next Democratic presidential nomination if she chooses to run, in a speech to hundreds of Republicans gathered along New Hampshire’s seacoast.

“They’re threatening to nominate someone now who wants to take us to the past — to an era that’s gone and never coming back,” Rubio, 43, told the Rockingham County Republican Committee, a reference to Clinton. “The road we’re on right now is a road that will rob us of the American dream.”

The appearance marks the clearest sign yet of Rubio’s interest in a 2016 presidential bid as he beefs up political organization and charts an aggressive role in this fall’s midterm elections.

Rubio attended three fundraisers on Friday to benefit New Hampshire Republicans, earning a private audience with key activists, donors and elected officials who play outsized roles in the selection of the GOP’s next presidential nominee. The state’s 2016 presidential primary is roughly a year and a half away, but prospective candidates have begun to flock to the state in recent months to secure an early advantage with key players.

Rubio is the first in the group of the so-called mainstream Republican class to appear in New Hampshire this year. Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and ordained Baptist minister, and tea party favorites Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz have visited several times.

Some New Hampshire Republicans report some skepticism about Rubio, whom they describe as a relatively inexperienced leader who has failed to impress in key moments.

“He’s sort of a victim of his own success. He was considered this hotshot rising star. Then a couple of issues like immigration haven’t gone very far, so some people think his stock is falling,” Steve Duprey, the state’s Republican National committeeman said of Rubio. “To me, he comes across as a serious and thoughtful, mainstream conservative.”

At the same time, Rubio has reshuffled his staff and directed his political resources to three key Senate races this year, including a GOP primary in Iowa, the state that hosts the first caucuses of the presidential primary season. Taken together, his actions are part of an effort to strengthen his standing in a potentially crowded 2016 presidential field after a year in which he saw his popularity slip over his backing of an immigration overhaul.

The renewed push also comes as the GOP establishment turns its attention to the freshman senator’s onetime mentor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Many party insiders and major donors are signaling their preference for Bush, the brother of President George W. Bush, which could threaten a potential Rubio candidacy.

For now, Rubio’s advisers say his political focus remains on helping Republicans retake the Senate in November. His political action committee is backing candidates in Arkansas, Colorado and Iowa — efforts that aides acknowledge could buoy a presidential campaign should Rubio run.

In Washington, Rubio has muscled his way to the forefront of major domestic and foreign policy debates, becoming a leading Republican voice for more robust action in geopolitical hot spots from Venezuela to Russia to China. Next week, he will detail his ideas to bolster retirement security and overhaul entitlement programs.

“The true American dream is not about what government can do for us,” he said, “but what we can do for ourselves and for our nation together.”

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Mishak reported from Miami.

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Follow Michael J. Mishak on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mjmishak

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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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