This morning, Senator George LeMieux emailed his most recent newsletter which included the following on the student loans from the "Health Care" reconciliation bill:
Sen. LeMieux Newsletter
Stop the Federal Takeovers
Included in the health care "fixer" legislation called the reconciliation bill, are provisions allowing the federal government to take over the student loan program. This will deprive 15 million students the ability to choose among 2,000 lenders and force them into the federal student loan system.
What's more, under this legislation Washington would eliminate an estimated 31,000 jobs - including 1,200 in Florida. Recently, I visited the Sallie Mae facilities near Panama City, FL. I made clear my support for a solution that protects these private sector jobs in a fiscally prudent way.
During debate, I asked colleagues to halt the takeover at least until Congress could explore the issue and find a bipartisan solution.
Unfortunately, the majority wouldn't even let my amendment come to a vote. This federal takeover will have become law without a single congressional hearing on the substance of the provisions.
On health care, student loans, and a number of other national issues, Washington lawmakers need to listen to the concerns of Floridians and others around the nation and conduct the people's work in an open and transparent fashion. Americans expect and deserve to see, hear and provide input on the process of lawmaking. Anything less is a disservice to the democratic process.