David Obey: “Mr. Speaker, yes, I support a special interest in the area of education. The special interest I support is kids. They…”

“Mr. Speaker, yes, I support a special interest in the area of education. The special interest I support is kids. They are our Nation's future, and I make absolutely no apology for it. Let me simply say, the facts remain that if we follow you on the reconciliation bill, we will wind up requiring people to spend $10 billion more on interest costs for student loans over the next 7 years because of what they put in the reconciliation bill. And that is going to benefit the banks. That is not going to benefit students. I have talked to college after college in my district, desperate to see the direct loan program expanded so they can get rid of some of the paperwork under the indirect loans that favor the banks but not the kids. I would also make the point that if my colleagues do not like the fact the proprietary schools are included in some of these programs, cut them out. I am for that. If my colleagues do not like the way some of the education programs work, cut them out. But then use that money in other education programs of a higher priority. Do not use education cuts to finance a tax cut for rich people. That is not what this country is looking for.”