Elections '86 - Bell Urges Student Aid Supporters to Tell Their Stories to Win Backing

Sep 29, 2026

Elections '86 examines how the 1986 education community influences congressional campaigns, contrasting major teacher unions’ funding with other education associations’ lower involvement. It spotlights former Education Secretary Terrel Bell’s argument that federal student aid—especially Guaranteed Student Loans and College Work-Study—should be protected from budget cuts. Bell urges student aid supporters to provide specific, anecdotal evidence and data about economic impact, warning that federal grant funding should not be the first target. Supporters are encouraged to strengthen lobbying with clearer stories.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages11

Reading Time28 min

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Elections '86

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Wednesday,October 15,1986 # —Elections '86- When the 1986 congressional campaigns are over,some education groupswill have had more of an impact on them than others.For years,thenation's two major teacher unions have poured millions into electionswhile most other education associations have waited on the sidelines.Higher Education Daily today,on page 5,begins a three-part series that examines the political contributions of the education community. # BELL URGES STUDENT AID SUPPORTERS TO TELL THEIR STORIES TO WIN BACKING SAN FRANCISCO--It was a federal student aid program that allowed former Edu-cation Secretary Terrel Bell to go to college.He never forgot it,and he saysthe federal government must never forget its duty to help the poor gain ahigher education. "Of all the money that the federal government spends,there is no money thatyields the dividends that [student aid]yields,"Bell said Monday. Bell,now a professor at the University of Utah,opened the 1986 fall con ven-tion of the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs(NCHELP)here。Bell spent much of his four-year stint as President Reagan's first educationsecretary fighting student aid cuts proposed by members of the administration. Penalties for guarantee agencies that experience high default rates on Guaran-teed student Loans could make it difficult for the neediest students to obtainloans,a panel warned last week。See story,page 3. Perhaps Bell's toughest job was convincing his colleagues of the importance ofthe Guaranteed Student Loan(GSL)program。Yet,Bell says,the GSL and theCollege Work-Study programs may be superior to the Pell Grants because theyforce the students to do something for the money they recel ve. "I wouldn't eliminate the grant program,but I think it is dead wrong to take aloan program as the first source of budget cuts,"Bell said."We ought to helppeople to help themselves.Too many of our programs create a dependency on thefederal government." To protect student aid in the Washington,D.C.,budget wars,the higher educa-tion community must improve its lobbying techniques,Bell said."You can makea great case for student aid,but you need to speak in more specifics …moreanecdotally,"he said.(more) October 15,1986 # BELL URGES STUDENT AID SUPPORTERS TO TELL THEIR STORIES(Cont.) For example,Bell said as education secretary he constantly lost battles withthen-0ffice of Management and Budget Director David Stockman,whose budget-cutting fervor often led him to propose massive reductions in GSL appropri-ations.That changed somewhat when Bell told Reagan just what Stockman's planswould do to the students at Eureka College,the president's alma mater. "We need to …tell the people and tell the Congress the story of the studentaid programs,"Bell said."I think we are hurting for data,statewide andnationwide.I think we've got to talk about the economic impact [studentloans]have on this country.I think there is a great story there." Bell said the modest funds he recei ved through a National Recovery Act work-study program have been paid back many times in the tax revenues he providesUncle Sam each year.He believes there are more stories like his out there.Bell said NCHELP already has been effective,but much more is needed."Buildyourself the strongest lobby …the most powerful lobby that you can,"heconcluded.--Bil1 Reinhard ★ ★ * # WOULD AMNESTY IDEA WORK FOR LOAN DEFAULTERS? SAN FRANCISCO--California's newly enacted tax amnesty program is returningfar more money to the state treasury than anyone imagined possible,accordingto the speaker of the state assembly,and he suggested a similar idea mightwork wonders for the federal Guaranteed Student Loan(GSL)program。 Backers of California's tax amnesty program estimated that $30 million could berecovered,but checks totaling $144 million have been recei ved,according toWillie Brown,speaker of the state assembly. If the GSL program were to offer the same carrot to its borr

FAQs

Why does Terrel Bell emphasize telling stories to build support for student aid?

Bell argues supporters need more specifics and more anecdotal and data-driven evidence about student aid’s economic impact and results to win political backing.

What does Bell say is wrong about cutting loan programs first?

Bell says it is “dead wrong” to take a loan program as the first source of budget cuts, arguing people should be helped to help themselves rather than creating dependency.

How does the article discuss loan-default prevention and eligibility concerns?

It notes warnings that penalties for guarantee agencies with high student loan default rates could make it harder for the neediest students to obtain loans, and it questions complex forms used to determine eligibility.

Sep 29, 2026

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