QLCLOG

A couple of interesting developments on possibly easing the astronomical student debt faced by qlc'ers:

The WSJ reported yesterday (Tues. 3/20/07) that lawmakers are "scrambling to find ways to make higher education more affordable" by cutting loan rates, increasing Pell grants and even introducing innovative measures such as making it easier to choose a low-paying job field by tying repayment to income. They're also pushing to cut out private lenders and incrase disclosre bewteeen colleges and lenders. Who knows where any of this will go, it's all talk now - but at least quarterlifers in financial crisis are finally getting some attention.
(The article, Student Debt: Congress Seeks to Ease Burden is only available online to subscribers)

Also yesterday, the Washington Post reported that the Department of Education has been Overcharging student borrowers for the past decade due to a computer glitch discovered by Brenda K. Pfeiffer, a 41-year-old Minnesota chiropractor - and former math teacher. Maybe transitioning to exclusively government-backed loans isn't such a good idea? In any case, if you've been mysteriously charged late fees on payments you made on time, you could be seeing that money again, thanks to Ms. Pfeiffer. You also have Sen. Kennedy to thank for championing for poor recent grads.