On Friday, the House of Representatives voted 215-195 to extend low interest rates on student loans. The interest rates are currently scheduled to double on July 1. Texas Rep. Blake Farenthold voted for the plan and applauded the effort to pay for the rate extension by tapping a program within the president’s health care plan for almost six billion dollars. Democrats say the program provides vital preventive care while Farenthold calls it a political ‘slush fund’. Listen here as Farenthold also responds to the argument from 30 GOP House members that Congress should not be artificially manipulating the the interest rate on loans and that the market should run its course. Farenthold also shares his thoughts with us on President Obama making this a major campaign issue and how he’s approaching a tough primary and fierce general election campaign in one of the most competitive districts in the nation. Listen here for our full conversation with Rep. Farenthold.
