Many college students depend on student loans and grants, but a rider bill attached to the health care bill passed by congress last month no longer permits banks to be in the student loan business. The bill is said to make things easier for students and family.

“I think it is going to cause a mess and raise taxes,” Government teacher Debra Goodman said. The government is now in charge of student loans and grants. It’s all competition and choice now. What happens if students do not qualify for grants?

“Their other option is loans, unless they qualify under the income bracket that every college offers,” College and Career Counselor Lesa Burleson said. “Loans given are usually private secured loans.”

“However, students who fill out the FAFSA should not be affected by this,” Burleson said. “Grants are given to FAFSA and then are given to students, no matter what their INCOME is.” It will be hard to get a loan or grant for students who do not fill out a FAFSA because banks are no longer doing it. Colleges prefer FAFSA be submitted by May 1st.

“Colleges will not even look at them if they have not filled a FAFSA,” Burleson said.
In legislative practice, a rider is an additional provision annexed to a bill under the consideration of a legislature, having little connection with the subject matter of the bill. Riders are usually created as a tactic to pass a controversial provision which would not pass as its own bill.