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Despite dustup, NY Gov Cuomo gets liberal backing

By WTOP Staff

DAVID KLEPPER
Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo beat back a challenge from the left Saturday, narrowly winning the nomination of the Working Families Party with a promise to support liberal priorities while taking on state senators who have blocked them.

Cuomo defeated a bid for the endorsement by Fordham University law professor Zephyr Teachout following an impassioned floor fight between his supporters and critics that gave vent to liberal frustrations with Cuomo over his support for business-friendly tax cuts and charter schools. The final vote was 59 percent for Cuomo to 41 percent for Teachout.

The governor did not appear at the convention but spoke to delegates over the phone. He promised to support liberal priorities including a minimum wage hike, the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana and public campaign financing.

“If we want to enact the progressive agenda, we need to take back the state Senate,” said Cuomo, adding that his own attempts to pass liberal policies have been blocked by the Senate. “It’s not that we haven’t to tried, it’s not that we haven’t fought … I want to do it with you, and if we come together that’s exactly what will happen.”

The Working Families Party, a coalition of unions and progressive groups, has emerged as a leading voice on the left, helping to elect New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. The party endorsed Cuomo in 2010, contributing some 150,000 votes to his total. New York allows candidates to run on multiple party lines.

Cuomo is widely thought to be mulling a presidential run. Losing the support of the Working Families Party would have been a political embarrassment, and worse, would have significantly cut into Cuomo’s lead over Republican candidate Rob Astorino, who won the state Conservative Party’s nomination at its convention Saturday.

Cuomo’s nomination was in doubt until a few hours before the vote. Cuomo got a boost from de Blasio himself, who personally vouched for Cuomo and told delegates that the governor is too powerful an ally to reject.

“I know people have strong views, passionate views,” de Blasio said. “So much is at stake for New York state … I have had many a conversation with the governor, and I believe his assurance that he supports this progressive vision and will move forward with it.”

Teachout had faulted Cuomo for not doing enough to address income inequality and the influence of money in politics.

“We’re seeing the worst inequality in 100 years right now, and right now, still, we (liberals) find ourselves fighting for scraps,” she said.

Polls show why the endorsement was so vital to Cuomo. A recent Quinnipiac University survey gave Cuomo a 57 percent to 28 percent lead over Astorino, the Westchester County executive. If an unnamed candidate running on the Working Families Party line was included, Cuomo’s lead over Astorino dropped to 37 percent versus 24 percent. The telephone poll of 1,129 voters was conducted May 14-19 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.

In exchange for an endorsement, the Working Families Party got Cuomo to agree to work to return the state Senate to Democratic control.

The Senate is now led by a coalition of Republicans and a breakaway faction of Democrats. Under the coalition leadership, the Senate has blocked many liberal priorities, including public campaign financing, codifying federal abortion rights in state law, and the Dream Act, which would extend state financial aid to students in the country illegally.

The Senate’s Republican leader, Sen. Dean Skelos, said he had “grave concerns” about what he called Cuomo’s support for the “leftist agenda supported by the ultra-liberal Working Families Party.”

“The voters will choose who controls the New York state Senate,” he said in a statement, adding that the Working Families Party “shouldn’t be holding elected officials hostage in exchange for an endorsement, legislation and (campaign) money.”

Despite the nomination, Cuomo is likely to face continued liberal skepticism. He was booed by dozens of convention attendees when his name was offered for the nomination. Bradley Russell, who held a poster in which Cuomo’s face was superimposed over a portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte, said he doesn’t trust Cuomo.

“This man believes in tax cuts for corporations and the rich,” he said. “Words from a proven liar mean nothing.”

The party also nominated Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, both Democrats, for re-election. Neither men faced opposition.

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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