One-Term-Wonder Congressman Katko is scheduled to tape a community affairs program produced by Cayuga Community College tonight less than a week after voting against Pell Grant funding and tax credits to help make students afford college. As long as he’s taking questions, we think Congressman Katko should explain to students at Cayuga Community College and across his district why he wants to make it harder for them to pay for college.
“Congressman Katko owes Central New York students an explanation for turning his back on them,” said DCCC spokesperson Matt Thornton. “Hard-working students and families across Central New York are struggling to pay for college and need a representative who will go to bat for them. Unfortunately, again and again, Congressman Katko has chosen to play politics in Washington instead of supporting real solutions to help Central New Yorkers.”
House Democratic Budget Would Ensure Full Funding Of Pell Grants And Help Students Refinance And Repay Loan Debt. “The chairman of the House Committee on the Budget may revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate levels in this resolution for any bill, joint resolution, amendment, or conference report that makes college more affordable and increases college completion, including efforts to: encourage States and higher education institutions to improve educational outcomes ad access for low- and moderate-income students; ensure continued full funding for Pell grants; or help borrowers lower and manage their student loan debt through refinancing and expanded repayment options, by the amounts provided in such measure if such measure would not increase the deficit for either of the following times periods: fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2020 or fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2025.” [House Democratic Budget – Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H. Con. Res. 27, 3/23/15]
House Democratic Budget Would Permanently Extend American Opportunity Tax Credit. “the House should broaden access to college, including through new initiatives to make college more affordable, increase college completion rates, and lower student debt. This includes, but is not limited to, helping millions of families afford the cost of college by: permanently extending and improving the American Opportunity Tax Credit…” [House Democratic Budget – Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H. Con. Res. 27, 3/23/15]
American Opportunity Tax Credit Offered Up To $2500/Year To Offset College Expenses, Like Tuition And Textbooks. “Parents can claim an American Opportunity Tax Credit of up to $2,500, based on having paid $4,000 of tuition and certain other college expenses. (They can get up to 100% of the first $2,000 they spend and up to 25% of the next $2,000.) Eligible expenses include tuition and required fees as well as course materials, such as textbooks. The credit can be used for a maximum of four tax years, and is set to expire at the end of 2017.” [Wall Street Journal, 3/3/15]