The federal government's brilliant plan to reduce the national budget deficit not only threatens students' reproductive rights, but could also cost students thousands of dollars after graduation.
The Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 initiated the highly publicized price increase of birth control, causing prices to double or quadruple, straining many students' monthly budgets. The federal government used its savvy to implement the provision. The act does not actually outlaw drug manufacturers from selling drugs at discount prices to specific groups, such as college students.
The bill does, however, require drug manufacturers to give the discount to all federal programs, such as Medicaid. So they were just trying to benefit Medicaid participants with lower prescription costs, right? Wrong.
The administration knew it was far more probable drug manufactures would discontinue the discount programs completely. It is not a secret that birth control is commonly discounted by manufacturers. It is also not a secret that barring access to contraceptives has been on many conservatives' agenda since they became widely available.
It is impossible to definitively conclude limiting the availability of birth control was an aim of the act, but the possibility should not be ignored.
The slow and steady infiltration of some conservative's religious beliefs into legislation needs to be halted. The United States was founded on the principle of separation between church and state for a purpose: to eliminate the religious views of those in power from governing the lives of citizens.
The most recent example of this phenomenon is the push for a gay marriage ban, largely fueled by the religious right.
If a federal gay marriage ban were passed, it would mark the first time in history that an amendment restricted the rights of an entire group of Americans. This would defy the purpose of the existing amendments which serve to protect the rights of all citizens.
Unfortunately, the deficit reduction bill was already signed into law. Who knew a bill so benignly titled the Federal Deficit Reduction Act would strain the sex life and wallets of countless college students? Who knew it would decrease student loan funding so drastically? Well, that one might have been a bit more predictable.
""The bill cuts excess government subsidies to lenders and makes other reforms that will help us reduce overall student loan costs by about $22 billion,"" said President Bush at the signing of the bill on Feb. 8, 2006.
""With that money, we will save taxpayers $12 billion—because we intend to increase student aid by 10 additional billion dollars. What I'm telling you is, the students are getting the money.""
Translation: The Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 implemented the largest cut in the history of the federal student loan program.
Exactly how this means students are getting the money is bewildering and the attempt at positive spin is asinine and maddening. Federal student loan programs make up the largest chunk of the budget cuts—$12.7 billion over five years.
The changes do not reduce the number of students eligible for student loans. The result is higher interest payments for student loan borrowers, potentially costing students thousands of additional dollars after graduation.
Proponents cite higher loan limits as a plus of the act, but it will result in higher interest costs over the life of the loan. Students should consider borrowing enough necessary to cover costs rather than accepting their total loan award.
It is important for students and all citizens to stay informed about government actions and the subsequent effects on their lives. We must not remain idle while student loan funding is slashed while the rich receive enormous tax cuts.
We must not let actions such as the burying of regulations in deficit reduction acts to go undisputed, especially when such actions so directly affect our lives. We must not allow the extreme religious views of those in power to further saturate the political landscape.
