North Carolinians understand the role of providing a quality higher education to stay competitive in a global economy. But, state Republicans have continuously cut higher education budgets from the moment that they took over the state legislature after the 2010 election. And, its not just state Republicans. In fact, it seems to be an entire Republican Party platform to cut education from K to 12.

This week’s looming July 1st deadline to stop federal subsidized student loan interest rates from doubling has once again demonstrated just how big of a difference in priorities that Democrats and Republicans have. If Congress does not act this week, the interest rate on federal Stafford loans will double for more than 160,000 North Carolinians, and more than 7.9 million students nationwide. That means an additional $1,000 every year, on average, in interest costs – about $127 million per year in total for North Carolina students.