The Hill News

Ron Paul dismissed criticism of his proposal to close the Department of Education and reduce the number of federally-backed student loans as "reckless" in an op-ed Friday in USA Today.

"The many headlines that came out after my interview Sunday on Meet the Press exclaimed that I wanted to 'end' or 'phase out' all student loans. In the long term â€" just like Social Security for people under the age of 25 â€" this is technically true. But to portray my budget plan as immediately getting rid of student loans is simply dishonest," Paul said.

Paul emphasized that his current budget did not cut student loan programs for those who are receiving the services or would in the near future. But the Texas congressman credited government intervention in college financing for skyrocketing costs, and said that by transitioning back to private financing market forces would push college costs back down.

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