Skip to main content

Gun control group focused on at least 11 races

By WTOP Staff

KEN THOMAS
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A gun-control organization led by former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, outlined plans Tuesday to support candidates in at least 11 congressional races this year who have backed efforts in Congress to enact stricter gun control laws.

Americans for Responsible Solutions said it will support a slate of nine Democrats and two Republicans in 2014 — and perhaps more. The group has raised about $14.5 million since it was founded in January 2013 and plans to spend money on television and online advertising and direct mail to help the list of mostly incumbent candidates.

“We need leaders who are ready to shatter the tired myth that you can’t be pro-gun rights and pro-gun violence prevention,” Kelly said in a conference call with reporters.

Giffords, D-Ariz., was severely wounded in a January 2011 shooting in Tucson, Arizona, that killed six people. The couple formed the political action committee and partner nonprofit organization in the aftermath of the December 2012 killings of 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

The group plans to advertise in some of the Democrats’ top Senate races, helping Sens. Mark Udall of Colorado, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Al Franken of Minnesota and Iowa Rep. Bruce Braley, who is seeking the state’s open Senate seat. It also intends to help Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.

It plans to help four House incumbents: Rep. Ron Barber, D-Ariz., a former Giffords aide; Democratic Reps. Carol Shea-Porter and Annie Kuster of New Hampshire; and Republican Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, who represents a House district outside Philadelphia.

A proposed expansion of background checks on the sale of firearms was derailed in the Senate last year and Democrats have struggled to advance new gun-control measures in an election year featuring tough races in some conservative and Western states. Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire who has supported more gun control, has said he will spend $50 million this year on campaigns that include drawing gun-control voters to the polls.

Democrats have raised hopes of achieving parity with the National Rifle Association, which spent nearly $20 million on federal campaign activity in 2012 races. It has reported 5 million members, many of whom regard gun issues strongly when voting.

Pia Carusone, Americans for Responsible Solutions’ executive director, said it would “meet and exceed” the $20 million fundraising goal it set at the start of the 2014 campaign cycle but declined to specify how much it plans to spend on federal races this year.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote