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In red Kansas, GOP governor appears vulnerable

By WTOP Staff

JOHN HANNA
AP Political Writer

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Despite accomplishing much of his agenda — or perhaps, because of it — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has run into a wave of negative repercussions that have roiled his prospects for re-election and ignited Democratic hopes in this deeply red state.

Elected three years ago as a leading conservative voice for making state government more business-friendly, Brownback has rolled over his opponents in Kansas to pass tax and spending cuts that seemed to pave a smooth path to a second term.

But recent developments have left his office on the defensive, illustrating the difficulties of putting some of his fiscal ideas into effect.

The state’s bond rating recently was downgraded over concerns the state would have to burn through its rainy day funds to make up for revenues lost to his tax cuts. Angry teachers have staged demonstrations at his public appearances and charged that his fiscal experiment will short schools and lead to crowded classrooms.

And the FBI has launched an inquiry into whether members of Brownback’s inner political circle tried to pressure companies to hire certain lobbyists close to Brownback’s administration.

Even Brownback’s admirers acknowledge that his aggressive agenda has complicated his future.

“Brownback has become a real reformer in the constellation of Republican governors,” said Phil Musser, former executive director of the Republican Governors Association. “That, of course, has political costs.”

Suddenly, Democratic groups that ignored Kansas in 2010, when Brownback won election by 30 points after giving up his U.S. Senate seat to run, are showing interest. A national party organization is training four field operatives to help Democratic candidates in the state and the Democratic Governors Association sent out a fundraising email touting Brownback’s leading opponent, Democratic state Rep. Paul Davis.

Recent polls have shown the race to be close, but Republicans enjoy a nearly 20-percentage advantage in registered voters, and Brownback predicts more will move his way later.

“You’re going to be in through late summer before they really pay attention to the race,” he said.

But Davis said he’s encouraged. “For a state that is very concerned about public education and values that, this is a lot of angst and a lot of concern about the direction we’re going,” Davis said.

Brownback, who grew up on a farm and was state agriculture secretary before being elected to the Senate, envisions using low taxes and other incentives to attract more businesses to replace the jobs being lost to declining agricultural and manufacturing employment. Job growth for the previous decade had been stagnant.

But his aggressive schedule for cutting tax rates has reduced revenue faster than economic growth can replace it. With the owners of 191,000 businesses exempted from paying anything at all and the top rate cut by 40 percent by 2018, tax collections are running 9 percent behind the previous year, with some estimates projecting the budget going into the red by mid-2017.

School officials and moderate Republican lawmakers are worried about the impact on education, which draws more than half the state’s revenues.

In rural Scott City, teachers have already agreed to a 2 percent pay cut to avoid layoffs, but parents are worried about larger classes, said Republican state Rep. Don Hineman, whose western Kansas district includes the town.

“It cuts across political philosophies when it comes to that subject,” Hineman said.

Some lawmakers worry that the state won’t be able to continue complying with a Kansas Supreme Court order to improve funding for poor districts.

Brownback insists that his fiscal plan will work by creating more revenue through new economic activity.

He points to 56,000 new private-sector jobs since he took office in January 2011. The state’s unemployment rate, 4.8 percent in April, was well below the national average.

“We just had such a bad situation in the state, we had to change things, and you couldn’t wait to do it,” Brownback said.

Brownback’s legislative critics say he is paying for his impatience and his drive to have GOP conservatives dominate state government. His opponent reported a surprisingly robust $1 million in cash contributions in less than five months at the end of last year, the latest figures available. Brownback raised $1.1 million in cash from donors in 2013.

But his many admirers in national conservative circles insist he will benefit in the long run by thinking big.

“It never surprises me that the most active governors have a dip in their popularity as their opponents go nuts,” said Grover Norquist, president of the influential conservative group Americans for Tax Reform.

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Sam Brownback’s re-election campaign: http://www.brownback.com/

Paul Davis’ campaign: http://davisforkansas.com/

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Follow John Hanna on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apjdhanna

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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