Gillibrand Wants To Let Students Refinance Loans At Lower Interest Rate

Doubtful this legislation will pass, but it's a good idea:

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is proposing new legislation to give students a bit of a break as they try to pay off their school loans.

The Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act would let current students and graduates refinance their federal student loans, known as Stafford loans, at a fixed 4-percent interest rate.

The interest rate on Stafford loans is set to double to 6.8 percent in July, if Congress does not act to prevent it.

Gillibrand says the average New York student owes more than $27,000.

She also says more than 10 percent of graduates are delinquent on repayments.

It used to be that students could consolidate loans at lower rates if the market rate had fallen.

But not after Bush and the Congress redid the laws and regulations.

Now you own the interest rate you took the loan out at until you pay it off or you die.

Of course, even if you die, your co-signer still owns the loan.

I have a hard time seeing the Obama administration or the GOP agreeing on the Gillibrand bill.

But it would be nice if they would.