The “Higher Ed,
Lower Debt” bill represents solutions for Wisconsin’s student loan borrowers.
This bill will enable students using state loans to have the ability to
refinance student loans at lower interest rates.
The bill will also
allow Wisconsin’s student loan borrowers to deduct student loan payments from
their income tax. According to Senator Chris Larson, this aspect of the bill
could result in an annual tax savings of approximately $172 for the typical
borrower, or as much as $392 for some people.
“According to
recent studies, there are 753,000 Wisconsin residents with an average student
loan debt of $22,400,” Larson says. The more money spent on student loans and
interest, the more money not put back into the state’s economy on cars, new
houses, and other purchases.
The bill will
provide students and parents with detailed information about student loans and
the best and worst private lenders. The Bill will ensure that students receive
loan counseling to make informed financial decisions about student loans.
This bill also releases
data collected about student loan debt in Wisconsin to help the public and
policymakers better understand the depths of the debt crisis in the state.
