Legislation in Washington, D.C., isn’t a primary concern in the minds of most students, according to most local political lobbyists and political leaders. But the landmark elections that catapulted Republicans into control of the Senate and allowed the party to maintain a steady hold on the House may be reason enough for students to take notice.

Political changes
Although several congressional races still are undecided, Republicans will have at least 226 seats in the House compared to the Democrats’ 208, and 51 seats in the Senate compared to the Democrats’ 46.
University political science Associate Professor Jerry Medler said with control of the presidency and Congress, Republicans could pass legislation that adversely affects students. Medler said students, who as a demographic are relatively poor, could suffer under Republican rule because the party traditionally doesn’t favor increasing government handouts to groups that need any form of social welfare.
“Students don’t have a lot of money — what they will experience in the short run is this is a system that won’t help them very much,” he said.
But Jarret White, recently-elected chairman of the University College Republicans, said while handouts might decrease, students aren’t likely to suffer.
“I don’t think Republicans are going to force any issue that’s going to be detrimental to students,” he said. “Students can look forward to see … secure borders and winning the war on terrorism.”
College Democrat Co-Chairman Mike Linman said he was concerned with what he feels is a lack of checks and balances in power with Republicans controlling both the executive branch and the legislature.
“I don’t think it accurately represents the voting population,” he said. “I wouldn’t want total Democrat control either.”
Medler added that Congress isn’t likely to do much in the next two years, even with the leadership of Republican President George W. Bush. That’s because national government is often a hobbled-together coalition of Southerners, Northerners, rural, urban and just about every other group who happen to see eye-to-eye on certain party issues.
“So while you have a Republican House and Republican Senate, you don’t necessarily get better of more unified legislation,” he said.
Student and University groups are now trying to enlist the unified support of Democrats and Republicans. The Higher Education Act, a blanket group of issues that affect higher education funding and policies, is up for reauthorization for the next congressional session, and billions of student aid dollars are at stake.
Higher Education Act
Mary Cunningham, legislative director for lobbying group the United States Student Association, said the USSA will be pushing four key components of the act in the 108th Congress, and added that the group is putting pressure on both political parties.
“You have to work with all the members of a (congressional) committee, and they aren’t all Republicans,” she said. “Now the balance of power is different, but we have relationships with people on both sides of the aisle.”
The lobbying group aims to increase student grant money, reduce the maximum student loan amount so students don’t go as far into debt, keep voter registration language intact and eliminate a controversial drug question from federal student aid forms.
University federal affairs Director Betsy Boyd said when Congress convenes in January, the fate of the Higher Education Act will be a central focus for university lobbyists.
“It’s an opportunity to beef up or change programs that directly affect student access to higher education,” she said.

Local efforts
The ASUO is beginning its own efforts to push for higher education. ASUO legislative associate Stefan Myers said it’s difficult to figure out what issues might change at a national level, as congressional elections were held so recently and some seats are still up in the air.
“As we’re looking at it, we can’t even guess actually how partisanship will affect higher education,” Myers said.
Looking to Congress for help is difficult for students, because most funding issues are decided at the state level. But through ties with organizations such as the USSA, Myers and other interested students will have a chance to travel to Washington, D.C., for a lobbying trip in the spring.
College Republicans and College Democrats are also planning their own approaches to higher education issues at the state and national levels.
Linman said being a Democrat is difficult when the national party doesn’t have one consistent, clear message.
“Right now we don’t have any forerunners in our party,” he said. “While you may disagree with what the Republicans stand for, most of them have a clear, unified voice. There is no unifying voice right now.”
White said the College Republicans also struggle at times with how to put a priority on higher education when most politicians pay more attention to K-12 students than people in college.
“Yes, we need higher education reform,” he said. “But I don’t think that either party looks at university education as much as they should.”