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Two weeks ago, America’s subprime schools — the for-profit college industry, many of whose members rip students off and demand that Uncle Sam pick up the tab for their shoddy education — held a conference in Washington, D.C. We were there.

The association for these schools, America’s Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU), brought in elite Democratic and Republican Party operatives to teach them how to intimidate candidates for federal office into supporting them. They also blamed the students themselves for mounting student debt.

At one point during the conference, former Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott — now a major lobbyist for APSCU — explained how he won over senators one by one to the cause of these scam schools.

After Lott’s presentation was over, I decided to confront him. I asked him to agree to a definition of conservatism where the ideology meant conservatives were for a smaller and more efficient government. He agreed.

I then asked him how he can explain how he as a conservative is lobbying to dump billions of dollars into scam schools. Lott deflected and tried to defend the merits of a subprime education. We debated the issue back and forth until he approached his limousine-style car and driver. I asked him if he was willing to disclose what he was being paid by the industry. He grew flustered. “It’s a matter of public record,” he huffed. “Just check the record.” Watch it:

I decided to take Lott’s advice and “check the record.” According to public disclosure documents, APSCU paid Lott’s firm $90,000 in 2011 for the services of both the former senator and former congressman John Breaux. It’s a relatively small price tag for selling out America’s students.

Filed under: Lobbying

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  • Jim Brasfield

    Can someone please explain to me why anyone would find this surprising. We know from years of experience that the legislative branch of governments, state or federal, has been bought by they that have the most money. That is why “we the people”, the 99% if you will, are screwed, over and over again.

    • reenie46

      Read the comment above yours!

  • reenie46

    Articles like this reach about 1% of our nation’s citizenry, a very familiar percentage today. This is better than nothing but I can’t fail to recognize that even the 1% of media that’s speaking out loudly for reform fails to publicly speak of the 99% of media that’s standing between us and reform.
    While attempting to spread awareness to the Get The Money Out movement I found scant few who’d ever heard of it, very disheartening until I recognized seemingly 100% endorsement upon awareness. We’re that close to campaign funding reform! If citizens ever are made aware of the efforts of the small but growing number of members of Congress and The Senate who are endorsing this movement while attempting to introduce Constitutional amendment aimed at campaign funding reform it’s a done deal.
    Soooooo, Republic Report, MSNBC, The Huffington Post, why aren’t you bringing public mention to the 99% of media that’s failing to provide public awareness to matter which you believe important enough to espouse to us? To matter I personally find to be in the heart of all citizens?

    • CatKinNY

      Ever heard of Dylan Ratigan? He has the 4 to 5pm slot on MSNBC, and his entire show is about getting the money out of politics. His book, ‘Greedy Bastards’ was published in January. It’s all about how the interests of a few wealthy individuals are trumping the interests of the country as a whole, all because of bought and paid for politicians. He also has a whole organization that is working to get the money out of politics -go to his website and join. Bernie Sanders has introduced legislation in the Senate to get the money out, too, though it’s more modest than what Dylan wants. You’re not alone!, and I’m pretty sure we’re getting close to a tipping point, public awareness wise. Even the Tea Party wants this.

      • reenie46

        CatKinNY,

        Dylan Ratigan is the founder of the Get The Money Out movement. Recognize that 200,000 citizens endorsed his movement, recognize that 200,000 is most likely the extent of his audience as it’s hard to find a citizen who won’t endorse it upon awareness. Recognize that the members of Congress and The Senate appearing on Dylan’s program state that change will come only through loud outcry from citizenry. Congressman John Yarmuth suggested 100,000,000 citizens. Dylan’s supporters number less than 1% of that, a familiar percentage today. The only place citizens can find awareness to this movement is MSNBC and The Huffington Post whose combined audience is 1% of our citizenry. This is where we live today.
        Having personally attempted to spread awareness to D ylan’s movement I’ve found almost none, 3 out of 50 who were in the room in my jury pool when I polled them, very disheartening until I recognized seemingly 100% endorsement upon awareness. We’re that close to campaign funding reform!
        No other media has taken the message of these legislators to the people and with no awareness the movement has no chance. The disgraceful ownership makeup of our media also owns large corpora tions in financial, aviation, rail, lighting, security, energy, petroleum, etcetera, and until we strip them of their ownership, as we did about 70 years ago, they wield great and unfair control over elections and government actions.
        Our legislators are urging us to use the social media in order to force needed change. Last week Al Gore urged us to do the same. This when we have the most available public media in our history. What’s wrong with this picture? Ask Bernie Sanders why he brings no public mention to our media avoiding giving public awareness to a movement he publicly endorses in 1% of our media. Sanders@senate.gov is his address!
        Senior Citizen

  • Dhfabian

    Who didn’t know that if we did nothing to stop government’s war against the poor, the next target would be the middle class? Who didn’t know that Reagan’s deregulation agenda would result in such things as subprime schools?

  • Greener_is_better

    First time family college applicants get caught in this trap.
    That’s America for you buyer beware and there are still many people that expect a place of education to be as
    revered as teaching used to be a long time ago.
    It’s all about colleges run like giant corporations with each seat filled a product sold.
    The lack of ethics has been outsourced years ago within the country by American student advisors; acting like commissioned auto salespeople.
    Bless these teachers and their unions.

  • repugnantcans

    GOP need for greed

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