Student Aid Teeters in the Debt-Ceiling Debate

[THP]

As I watched the seemingly endless debt-ceiling drama in the U.S. House of Representatives unfold last night on CNN, I wondered if I was witnessing a moment in higher-education history that one day might be recalled as the point when short-term political gamesmanship won out over the country's long-term economic success.If you've been following the debt debate in Washington, you know that, as of this minute, there are two competing proposals -- one in the House, one in the Senate -- to raise the debt ceiling by next week. Both would cut spending over all, but both also include a provision that would actually raise spending to deal with shortfalls in the Pell Grant program for the next two years ($17-billion in the House plan and $18-billion in the Senate plan).More...