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House passes $20B bill cutting IRS tax enforcement

By WTOP Staff

ANDREW TAYLOR
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The GOP-controlled House passed a $20 billion measure Wednesday that would slash budgets for enforcing tax laws and new financial regulations, and a healthy food initiative that’s a pet cause of first lady Michelle Obama.

The House passed the bill on a nearly party-line, 228-195, vote.

Companion legislation has yet to advance in the Senate and the White House has promised a veto of the House bill for numerous reasons, including a provision that would block the Internal Revenue Service from enforcing the mandate on individuals to buy health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

The GOP-drafted measure denies the administration’s $35 million request to help community development banks finance projects aimed at making healthy foods more available in neighborhoods that lack grocery stores.

The measure is one of the more obscure of the 12 annual spending bills funding the Treasury Department, the IRS, White House staff and operations, and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s regulation of the financial sector.

It contains a host of legislative riders that are catnip for conservatives. They include blocking new IRS regulations that could deny tea party groups and others tax-exempt status and block the government of the District of Columbia from financing Medicaid abortions or needle exchange programs.

On Wednesday, the House adopted an amendment by Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie that would limit the District of Columbia government from enforcing gun laws passed the wake of the 2008 Supreme Court decision that overturned the city’s handgun ban. The ordinances impose hurdles to gun ownership such as fees and fingerprinting. The city’s non-voting delegate, Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton, warned that the amendment could have far more sweeping effects.

Also Wednesday, the House voted 236-186 to reject a move by Rep. John Fleming, R-La., to block the Treasury Department from implementing guidance to banks that would allow them to engage in transactions with marijuana-related businesses in states that have legalized the drug for medical or recreational uses.

The healthy foods financing program, funded at $22 million this year, is part of a multi-pronged initiative by Michelle Obama to bring healthy foods to “food deserts” like inner city areas served by corner stores instead of larger grocery stores that stock more fresh fruits and vegetables.

But Republicans say the initiative is unproven and that easier access to healthy food doesn’t necessarily lead to increased consumption.

The measure also would cut the IRS’ enforcement budget by $1.2 billion, or 25 percent in a move that Democrats warned could make it easier for tax cheats to get away with it. Republicans are furious at the agency over allegations it targeted tea party groups seeking tax-exempt status and has lost emails from the government account of former agency official Lois Lerner, who was formerly in charge of the IRS section responsible for scrutinizing such requests.

The measure also contains a little-noticed account that funds the pensions and office expenses of the four former presidents. The bill would slash the $3.3 million budget for the account in half.

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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