Would you do this? And to American students? Would you FAIL to do your job, blow a deadline for students across America, and just go on vacation?
Today is July 1 -- and, as of today, the interest rates for student loans JUMPS and all because the U.S. Senate recessed last week for THEIR VACATIONS rather than addressing the problem.
Each U.S. Senator on vacation should feel awful as having failed American families on such an important issue. Yes, I know, they claim they will return from vacation and will fix it retroactively -- but that is rotten. How about doing your job BEFORE you go on vacation? No one tied up even one U.S. Senator and dragged him/her to the airport on Friday forcing him/her to leave Washington and go on vacation. Each left Washington on Friday because he or she wanted to leave. Yes, selfish.
Why does it matter? Because over this long weekend (and in the days and weeks leading up to it), many families and students were and are making plans for the future -- which school? Can they afford it? What if they get a loan? what interest rate? Each college costs a different amount and it makes a difference to students and their families what that rate is.
Rather than giving a clear message (other than "my vacation matters more than you"), U.S. Senators have simply left families and students hanging and wondering. Not in a million years would I do that, how about you?
Politicians talk big about wanting to get the economy going and JOBS -- yet they are now in the way of students learning and getting skills for jobs. Don't they even feel a bit guilty?
The party out of power in the Senate, the Republicans, can blame the Senate Democratic leadership since they control legislation timing (and I do blame them), but I also blame the Republicans. The Republicans are just as complicit for failing to stay in Washington and making a point that vacations come second, not first. You know the media would have picked up on it, reported the 'sit in' and maybe, just maybe, shame other U.S. Senators to return and do their jobs. They would all probably would feel great, too, since it is fun to do the right thing. Doing your job IS the right thing.
I don't know about you, but I would love to have seen just one U.S. Senator stay in Washington -- instead of going on vacation -- just to send the message that American students come first instead of their vacation! Instead each Senator could not get to the airport fast enough on Friday to start their vacations.
Remember -- the July 1 deadline passed BECAUSE the Senate ignored the deadline -- not because any American family or student did something wrong. It is the Senate not giving a damn.
What do you think? And are you going to email your US Senator today about this? They will see your emails when they come back from their holiday.