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Clinton offers themes that could shape 2016 bid

By WTOP Staff

KEN THOMAS
Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — As she explores another presidential campaign, Hillary Rodham Clinton often says anyone who seeks the White House needs a compelling message and an agenda for the country.

Clinton has announced no decisions about her political future but she is beginning to describe themes that could animate a future campaign.

At a Thursday night rally for Tom Wolf, the front-running gubernatorial candidate in Pennsylvania, Clinton described a Democratic Party that “stands for families, stands for working people, stands for fairness and justice.”

Pointing to equal pay for women, a boost in the minimum wage and stronger family leave policies, she declared, “a 20th century economy will not work for 21st century families. It is past time for a fresh start.”

Wolf, who faces Republican Gov. Tom Corbett in next month’s election, has used the “fresh start” tagline during his campaign but Clinton adopted it, an indication of how she might campaign during President Barack Obama’s final two years. It was Clinton’s first appearance at a public campaign rally this fall and came before about 1,000 Democrats at an event near Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the U.S. Constitution was signed.

As Democrats try to maintain their Senate majority and win governors’ races, Clinton has embarked on an extensive campaign schedule on behalf of her party. She is helping several Democratic women on the ballot, including those in states where Obama remains unpopular like North Carolina’s Sen. Kay Hagan and Senate candidates Alison Lundergan Grimes of Kentucky and Michelle Nunn of Georgia.

She’ll headline events next week in Colorado, Nevada, Kentucky and Michigan and travels to New Hampshire in early November to boost Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Gov. Maggie Hassan in the nation’s first presidential primary state.

During her summertime book tour, Clinton stumbled over questions about her family’s wealth, at one point telling an interviewer that she and former President Bill Clinton were “dead broke” when they left the White House because of legal bills. Mrs. Clinton can now command $200,000 and more for paid speeches, even though she says many of the events have benefited her family’s philanthropic foundation.

Liberals often question whether Clinton is too close to Wall Street from her days as a New York senator and worry she might not champion an agenda targeting economic inequality, themes expressed by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and others. But on Thursday, the former first lady offered glimpses of how she might address those concerns.

In her speech, Clinton, a newly-minted grandmother, said a nurse working at the hospital where baby Charlotte was born thanked her for advocating for paid maternity leave, which she says resonated with new mothers trying to balance work and family.

“You should not have to be the grandchild of a president to get a good education, to get good health care,” Clinton said, urging that “we give every child in Pennsylvania the same chance that I’m determined to give my granddaughter.”

Her speech included critiques of Republicans who seek to encroach on female reproductive rights and opponents of gay marriage.

Clinton, whose family foundation has received millions from corporate sponsors, said corporations “seem to have all of the rights but none of the responsibilities of people.”

While the event aimed to mobilize female Democratic voters for Wolf, anticipation about Clinton’s future was a recurring theme. Clinton beat Obama in the 2008 Democratic primary in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia is vying to stage the 2016 Democratic National Convention, where Clinton could potentially become the first female presidential nominee of a major party.

“She’s been a leader for all of us,” Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa., told the crowd. “And she’s not done.”

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Follow Ken Thomas on Twitter at https://twitter.com/KThomasDC

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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