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Conyers files appeal to get back on ballot

By WTOP Staff

JEFF KAROUB
Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) — Longtime Michigan Congressman John Conyers on Friday appealed a decision that he lacked enough valid signatures on petitions to get on the August primary election ballot, part of a larger legal campaign to restore his name and run for a 26th term.

Conyers’ filing with the Michigan Secretary of State’s office seeks to reverse this week’s decision by Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett to keep him off the ballot because some petition collectors hadn’t complied with state voter registration requirements. Secretary of State officials say the department will review the appeal and decide by June 6.

The filing comes a day after Conyers, who was first elected to the House in 1964, joined a federal lawsuit taking aim at the requirement that petition collectors be registered voters. The suit was filed against Garrett and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson by the American Civil Liberties Union’s state chapter on behalf of two petition circulators and others.

Garrett’s review found Conyers was more than 400 signatures short of 1,000 needed.

Conyers argues in his appeal that the clerk’s decision “is factually and legally unsound.” Several of the circulators of nominating petitions had their voter registration confirmed, the appeal says.

The lawsuit and ACLU officials say the U.S. Supreme Court and the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Michigan, have struck down such requirements because they violate the rights of free speech and political association.

The ACLU also asked the court to order Garrett and Johnson to stop enforcing the law, which the group believes is unconstitutional. A hearing is planned for Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit.

Under state law, people who circulate nominating petitions to get candidates on primary election ballots must be registered voters. Michigan lawmakers last month amended the law to eliminate voter registration requirement for those circulating ballot initiative and referendum petitions and qualifying petitions for several statewide offices. It does not apply to the election involving Conyers and some other state offices, which the ACLU said does not make sense.

Conyers’ campaign chairman Bert Johnson, who is also a state senator, said the Michigan requirement that people who circulate petitions be registered voters is “draconian.”

Conyers’ opponent in the primary, the Rev. Horace Sheffield III, filed the challenge after learning at least two people hired to get signatures for Conyers weren’t registered at the time to vote in Wayne County.

If Conyers’ appeal fails, he will have to run as a write-in candidate, which Johnson said they are prepared to do if necessary.

Given voters’ familiarity with the Conyers name in a heavily Democratic district, winning an expensive write-in campaign is feasible, said Adrian Hemond, a Democratic political strategist with Grassroots Midwest in Lansing.

“It’s the Conyers name for crying out loud. He’s got a following. If Conyers only makes a token effort at it, it won’t go well. But if he gears up and raises the money, he can do it.”

Hemond said that as a 25-term congressman, Conyers is better known than former Republican Rep. Thad McCotter of nearby Livonia, who abandoned a write-in campaign in 2012 after he did not qualify for the primary ballot due to fraudulent signatures.

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Associated Press writer David Eggert in Lansing contributed to this report.

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Follow Jeff Karoub at https://twitter.com/jeffkaroub

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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