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Quick turnaround gives McCarthy edge in GOP race

By WTOP Staff

KEVIN FREKING
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s knack for helping colleagues get elected and his ability to maintain a personal connection have given him the advantage in the race for House majority leader despite calls by some Republicans for a new, more conservative direction.

McCarthy, 49, who is serving just his fourth term from California, has emerged as the clear front-runner to succeed Rep. Eric Cantor, whose loss in Virginia’s GOP primary to a far-right candidate with little money and name recognition stunned the House and prompted questions about where it should turn as it fills its new leadership vacuum.

On Friday, conservative Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, said he would challenge McCarthy for the No. 2 leadership post, saying Cantor’s defeat showed “Americans are looking for a change in the status quo.” But with McCarthy having moved quickly to solidify support, Labrador’s candidacy was seen as a symbolic effort by the party’s conservative wing.

Though the leadership election is a week away and a lot can change, the list of competitors has evaporated. The strongest challenger, Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, took his name out of the running late Thursday as McCarthy’s broad list of supporters gained by the hour, including influential chairmen such as Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan, tea party favorites such as Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and more moderate members such as Rep. Tom Rooney of Florida.

Supporters said McCarthy moved quickly to generate support from within the Republican ranks, and his current job as majority whip — the No. 3 spot in the House leadership — allowed him quick and personal access in a way no other candidate could match.

“Kevin McCarthy has made more deep and lasting contacts with members than anyone in a long time in the Congress,” Camp said. “There’s probably no member of Congress who has called me or texted me more than Kevin McCarthy during the past four years. … I’ll bet if I called him and asked him ‘What’s my wife’s name?’ he would know it.”

Some lawmakers and advocacy groups believe that Cantor’s defeat was meant to serve as a message.

“I think there’s an appetite for a totally new direction,” said Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., who emphasized that he hadn’t made a decision on which candidate to support, but he would have liked to see Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas try for the job.

But Hensarling said Thursday that “this is not the right office at the right time for me and my family.”

McCarthy was elected by colleagues to serve as majority whip after the 2010 elections. He had played a major role in recruiting the 2010 class that helped the GOP take the majority.

As majority leader, McCarthy would be the No. 2 House Republican behind Speaker John Boehner. The race to succeed McCarthy as whip includes Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana, Peter Roskam of Illinois and Steve Scalise of Louisiana.

McCarthy’s swift rise through the GOP ranks has also been helped by his fundraising prowess and the well-stocked distribution of money from his leadership PAC to his fellow Republican House members. McCarthy has transformed from a regional congressman dependent on the largesse of central California farmers and businessmen to a Washington-centric fundraising powerhouse capable of connecting House members to his potent network of PAC and super PAC donors.

McCarthy’s Majority Committee PAC gave nearly $1.2 million to Republican House candidates and organizations in 2012 and has pumped in an additional $480,000 to candidates this election cycle — a formidable funding stream that shows loyalty and can also command it in contest to determine the party’s hierarchy.

McCarthy served four years in the California Legislature before attempting to succeed his former boss, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas. While Thomas was often irritable and dismissive, McCarthy is viewed as warm and friendly.

Members indicated that the quick turnaround time for the majority leader election has played to McCarthy’s strengths.

“You’re running almost purely on reputation and existing relationships, so having been whip for some time, that’s why it’s an easy and logical choice to continue with someone you’re already happy with,” Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah said.

Rooney said he supported McCarthy because he’s accessible and “one of the few adults in the room.”

As the House whip, it’s McCarthy’s responsibility to mobilize and count the party vote on important legislation. During his tenure, the House leadership has at times pulled bills from consideration when it turned out they did not have as much support as anticipated. “Some of that is the growing pains of a majority,” Camp explained.

McCarthy, who faced no opposition in his 2014 primary race, has had one of the more moderate voting records among House Republicans in recent years. Club for Growth, a conservative advocacy group, ranked McCarthy in the bottom quarter of House Republicans for 2013.

FreedomWorks, an advocacy group affiliated with the tea party movement, called on its members Friday to pressure their representatives to vote for Labrador.

“Americans deserve a choice in leadership, and thanks to Raul Labrador, Republicans don’t have to settle for the next guy in line,” said the group’s president, Matt Kibbe.

As a teenager, McCarthy used a $5,000 win in the lottery to jump-start his own business, Kevin O’s Deli. He sold the business and used the profits to attend college, where he accepted an internship with Thomas and went on to become his district director.

McCarthy ranks in the lowest fifth among House members in terms of wealth, according to his financial disclosure statements and an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics. His 2012 disclosure showed his net worth between $78,000 and $296,000, with his $174,000 congressional salary supplemented from dividends from a variety of mutual and money market funds.

He would make more than $193,000 if he wins the majority leader post.

___

Associated Press writer Erica Werner contributed to this report.

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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