From NewBostonPost:

Shoshana Weissmann of R Street Institute, a free-market-oriented public policy research organization headquartered in Washington D.C., said the proposed reform is long overdue.

“Striking these provisions entirely would be the best option,” Weissmann told NewBostonPost by email. “Laws like these were enacted after the federal government pushed it as a good way to encourage student loan repayment in the 1990s. However, evidence shows that even where loans are repaid, they’re paid by taking out more loans. This isn’t working and it hits the most vulnerable when they’re down. It’s also frequently used against teachers and nurses which is additionally cruel during a pandemic.

“The bottom line is, if you want loans paid, you don’t take away people’s occupational license to work in the profession where they will presumably make the most money,” she added. “Stories of people harmed by the current laws are heartbreaking. I appreciate Sen. Fattman, Rep. Higgins, and Rep. Muradian working on this, and that the effort is bipartisan! R Street has also praised Rep. Higgins’ tireless effort on this issue in the past.”

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