On a tour of what he referred to as a mecca for higher learning, Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., spoke Monday in Davies Center about what he called “the largest raid on student aid in our nation’s history.”

UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout, UW-River Falls, UW-LaCrosse, UW-Platteville and numerous private and technical colleges lie within Kind’s third congressional district.

He had visited River Falls and Stout earlier that day.

Kind, a member of the House Education and Workforce committees, spoke against a bill the House of Representatives narrowly passed last week that would save the federal government $39 billion over five years.

Specifically, the bill reins in federal spending by increasing costs for many Americans, including college students, the elderly and the working poor, Kind said.

“I’m growing . alarmed by the tendency in this country to lose sight of support for education,” Kind said. “We’re losing our way.”

Included in the legislation, which the Senate passed in December, is a $12 billion cut to federal student aid programs.

The bill calls for an interest rate hike on federal student loans from 7.9 percent to 8.5 percent, a new 1 percent insurance fee student borrowers would have to pay and the elimination of $2.2 billion in available federal student loan funding.

“I fear this (bill) is going to make going to school more expensive if not impossible for lower-income students,” Kind said.

Interim Chancellor Vicki Lord-Larson, who spoke with Kind at the event, said she is troubled by the cuts congress approved.

“We’re very concerned about the impact this will have both on the recruitment and retention of our students,” Larson said.

In addition to cuts on student aid, the bill calls for a nearly $4.7 billion slice in Medicaid spending and a $6.4 billion reduction in Medicare funds.

Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., defended the cuts by explaining the necessity of holding the line on the growing federal budget deficit. In addition, he and other Republicans say spending cuts are needed as costs from Hurricane Katrina continue to rise.

“For Americans troubled by a rising tide of red ink here in Washington, D.C., 2006 begins with a reason for optimism,” Pence said in a Knight Ridder News Service article.

Kind and House democrats, on the other hand, cite increasing tax breaks for the wealthy as the major fiscal problem in Washington.

“On the backs of students, we’re trying to balance the budget,” Kind said. “Is that a long term strategy for success? I don’t think so.”

Senior Aaron Brewster, who attended Kind’s speech, said that if fewer federal loans are available, students may have to look to more expensive private loans to go to school.

“I do worry about paying off my loans after I graduate,” Brewster said. “But, I think the educational experience is well worth it.”

– Knight Ridder News Service contributed to
this report.