The case against Lamar Smith

Texan article link
Dishing out more debt for students
The latest version of the budget reconciliation bill that passed the Senate on Dec. 21 will cut $12.7 billion from loan programs, making student loans the biggest victim from Congressional Republican leadership's budget-slashing initiatives this fiscal year. These cuts are also the biggest cuts to the U.S. student aid program in its 40-year history. If this bill passes, students will soon end up with a lot more debt than they otherwise would have.

(snip)
So why are social spending cuts being born heaviest by students? Most likely because college students often do not vote, particularly in the numbers that other groups, senior citizens for instance, do. Two U.S. Congressional representatives who represent the UT Austin area both voted for it. Representatives Michael McCaul and Lamar Smith (McCaul represents the area just north of campus and Smith just south of it) voted to pass on these heavy cuts for students, giving the House the slim majority that it needed to do so. Under this bill, students will shoulder the cutbacks as Republican legislators continue not only to run huge deficits, but also to pass tax cuts for many in the top income brackets. McCaul and Smith have both voted previously for the budget reconciliation bill.
(/snip)

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/02-06/02-03-06/02world-nation.htm
Boehner victory influenced by outside events
A little over two weeks ago, Roy Blunt, R-Mo., declared the race for majority leader over. He released a statement announcing that a majority of Republicans had pledged support to him. It was publicity stunt, of course, an effort to turn an early lead into an invincible stampede. But he honestly believed he was on an unstoppable trajectory to victory.

(snip)
Blunt knew there were concerns about his ties to DeLay, K Street and the old guard. He assured members he had never done anything illegal or unethical. But he always returned the conversation quickly to what he believed was a member's bottom line. One of his first conversations was with Lamar Smith, a 10-term Texan whose state faced a monumental loss of clout with DeLay's departure. For almost 50 of the past 75 years, since John "Cactus Jack" Garner was elected minority leader in 1929, a Texan has held one of the top three House leadership posts. With DeLay's retreat, that influence was gone.

Trying to avoid appearances that he was trying to buy the election, Blunt not-so-subtly discussed a variety of priorities and concerns of the Texas members — without explicitly making promises or linking action to their vote. The message was clear: Texas would do just fine with Blunt in their corner. He spoke favorably of enhancing the clout of the delegation and in particular of Joe Barton, chairman of the Energy Committee. "We thought by going with Blunt ... that would help our situation," said Texas Rep. Mike Conaway. By the end of the first week, 14 of the 21 Texas Republicans were with Blunt. By the time he declared victory in mid-January, Blunt was certain he had 120 votes in the bag. (/snip)

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/stories/MYSA020206.en.republicans.delay.64dd9051.html
House Republicans choose new leader with eye on restoring trust
Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, said Texans backed Blunt because "he did a good job, and deserved to be the majority leader."

HOME: FEBRUARY 24, 2006: NEWS: NAKED CITY
Naked City
• The League of Conservation Voters has released its annual National Environmental Scorecard, and as usual, the results aren't pretty for Texas' congressional delegation. Based on 20 selected votes considered particularly important by the LCV, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison scored a sad 5% pro-environment ranking during 2005 … and she was our better senator. John Cornyn scored 0%. Of Austin's congressional delegation (scored on 18 votes), Democrat Lloyd Doggett was the best in Texas at 94%; lagging way, way behind were Republicans Michael McCaul, John Carter, and Lamar Smith (all zeroes). As a state, our House average was a pathetic 20%; if you remove the Democrats, it drops to 3%. Take out maverick Ron Paul (44%) and the GOP reps drop to 1.2%. – Lee Nichols
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http://www.studentswithcourage.com/greatesthits.php
With our voices raised together, we shout:

"Lamar Smith, STOP THE RAID ON STUDENT AID!"

In the face of massive attacks on student aid and services, Lamar Smith has remained silent.

Sources:
(1) College Board/Chronicle of Higher Education (chronicle.com)
(2) Public Interest Research Group/Studentaidaction.com
(3) Daily Texan Online (www.dailytexanonline.com)

On Debt/Increasing College Costs

1. Tuition has increased 66.5% since 2003 at the University of Texas at Austin. Tuition has increased over 110% since 1999.
   
2. UT-Austin students will see a 9.6% tuition increase for the 2006-2007 school year. The average undergraduate student will pay more than $4,100 per semester.
   
3. The average undergraduate borrower leaves college more than $17,000 in student loan debt, and law and medical students leave school with more than $65,000 loan debt, on average.
   
4. 5 million students nationally receive federal financial aid to attend college.
   

On the Student Aid Cuts Supported by Rep. Smith in 2005
(FY2006 Budget)

1. Included $12.7 Billion in cuts to student loan programs and made it more expensive to borrow by raising interest rates. TOTAL CUTS to Student Aid supported by Rep. Lamar Smith in 2006: $21 Billion
   
2. Specifics of Budget Reconciliation Bill: $13 billion in cuts by increasing subsidy payments that student and parent borrowers make to lenders. This bill uses this money to pay for new tax cuts rather than sending it back to students through additional need-based grant aid or lower interest rates.
   
3. Approximately $2 billion in cuts by increasing the parent loan interest rate from 7.9% to 8.5%.
   
4. Increases Federal Stafford Loan interest rates and origination fees which are used by thousands of middle class students.
   
5. Freezes Pell Grants at $4,050 for the third straight year and fails to adjust for inflation.
   

On the Proposed Student Aid Cuts Supported by House Republicans, Lamar Smith & Proposed by Pres. Bush
(FY2007)

1. Proposes $1.7 Billion in cuts to higher education.
   
2. Freezes Pell Grants for the 4th year in a row and again fails to adjust Pell Grants for inflation.
   
3. Cuts the valuable LEAP Program (Leveraging Education Assistance Partnerships), which makes incentive grants to states to encourage need-based state grant programs.
   
4. Cuts the TRIO programs that encourage individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter and complete college.
   
5. Cuts the Perkins Loan program that offers low interest loans to almost one million students.
   

1999 Official Title of Legislation:
H.AMDT.22 to HR 800: Amendment sought to provide that only schools in which at least 35 percent of the students come from low-income families may seek a waiver to use their Title I funds to operate school-wide projects.

Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to adopt an amendment that allows schools to obtain a waiver if at least 35 percent of the students are from low-income families.
Rep. Smith voted NO on this amendment.