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Clinton says wealth comments don’t define her

By WTOP Staff

KEN THOMAS
Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton says her “inartful” comments about her family’s wealth don’t reflect who she really is, pointing to her efforts to help working families.

The potential 2016 Democratic presidential candidate said in an interview with PBS’ “NewsHour” airing Wednesday that she understands that the recession hasn’t ended for many Americans and “not enough new jobs or new businesses are being created.”

“I shouldn’t have said the five or so words that I said, but my inartful use of those few words doesn’t change who I am, what I’ve stood for my entire life, what I stand for today,” Clinton said.

The former secretary of state has been criticized by Republicans for her recent remarks about her family’s post-presidential wealth. In an interview with ABC News to promote her new book, “Hard Choices,” Clinton said earlier this month that she and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, were “dead broke” when they left the White House in early 2001. Republicans noted the Clintons have made millions of dollars since the end of Clinton’s presidency.

PBS’ Gwen Ifill pointed out in the interview that Bill Clinton felt compelled to defend his wife on stage at the Clinton Global Initiative America meeting. He told NBC News at the event that his wife was “not out of touch.”

Hillary Clinton said it was a “false equivalency” to compare Democrats’ critique of Republican Mitt Romney’s wealth in 2012 and pointed to her record of supporting increasing the minimum wage and equal pay for women. She said her husband was “very sweet” to defend her, “but I don’t need anybody to defend my record, I think my record speaks for itself.”

On Wednesday, as Hillary Clinton attended events on the West Coast, the former president welcomed Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who is also considering a 2016 presidential campaign.

The ex-president called O’Malley a “terrific governor” and noted that O’Malley’s endorsed lieutenant governor, Anthony Brown, won an easy victory in Maryland’s Democratic gubernatorial primary Tuesday. Clinton said it showed people in Maryland “like where they’re going and believe in what they’re doing.”

O’Malley announced a project in the mid-Atlantic to invest in infrastructure projects. The governor is considering a White House bid, which could hinge on whether Hillary Clinton seeks the presidency.

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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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