Small Occupational Licensing Reform Advancing
From the Arkansas Project:
Marc Hyden, State Government Affairs Director at the R Street Institute, testified about similar legislation in Georgia. He spelled out the absurdity of suspending occupational licenses for student loan defaults:
When occupational license suspensions are initiated, licensees are prohibited from working in their profession, which merely makes it harder to repay their debts. After all, it is difficult for individuals to re-enter satisfactory repayment status if they do not have a job. This policy essentially creates joblessness and subsequently pushes the newly unemployed into poverty, making it more likely that they will apply for taxpayer-funded assistance. Therefore, this government-created poverty harms more than just those in default.