The Daily Mississippian

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DailyMississippian The

thedmonline.com

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Vol. 100 No. 217

New Obama plan reforms student loans BY KATHRYN WINTER Kathryn.winter2011@gmail.com

For the more than 36 million Americans who carry federal student loan debt, totaling more than one trillion dollars, President Barak Obama’s new plan could significantly lighten the heavy burden of debt for those who qualify. The new Obama plan to help alleviate college student loan debt might not be much help to current students, with loan consolidation not starting until 2012 and loan debt repayments being lowered to 10 percent from 15 percent in 2014. The first part of the new “Pay as you earn” plan will cut back on loan repayments. Currently, student loan borrowers repay 15 percent of their income, and any remaining debt after 25 years is forgiven. With the new plan, loan debt repayment will be lowered to 10 percent of income, and debt forgiveness will be set at 20 years.

BY BLAIR JACKSON sblairjackson@gmail.com

he wrote for gulflive.com that economic development situations are best handled with

Mixed in with the familiar red and blue flashes of the Oxford community are the just as well-known multi-dimensional taxis zipping around town. The traditional late-night taxi ride may be about to change for students, as a new ordinance is being considered by the Board of Aldermen. At the city hall board meeting Tuesday night, both those for and against the ordinance filled the room, as the board discussed the proposed amendment to Chapter 118, which deals with taxi laws and regulations within Oxford. On one side, members of the Associated Student Body are pushing for more consistent and accurate taxi ride fares, and on the other, taxi services, such as Hotty Toddy Taxi, oppose the regulations set by the new ordinance. The ordinance seeks to put a $10 maximum per person on taxi rides, along with requiring all taxi companies to adopt a new standardized insurance. Associated Student Body senators Daniel C. Roberts, Emmalee Rainey, Olivia Watkins and Hardy DeLaughter attended the meeting to present concerns about what they say are inconsistent taxi fares. “The problem comes when students call the dispatcher and get one price then have to pay another,” said Roberts, ASB president pro tempore. ASB conducted a recent survey, testing all cab companies in Oxford. It found that in most cases there were discrepancies between the advertised rate and what students actually had to pay. Later that evening, senators Roberts, Rainey and Watkins presented a similar piece of legislation to the ASB Senate. Resolution 11-25 encour-

See INITIATIVE 31, PAGE 4

See TAXI, PAGE 5

See DEBT, PAGE 5 PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY PETRE THOMAS | The Daily Mississippian

Private property? Or possible economic development? This is the first in a four-part series highlighting issues that will be on Tuesday’s ballot. This article will deal with Intiative 31, which talks about Eminent Domain. Tomorrow will deal with Initiative 27, which talks about Voter Identification. BY WARREN BISHOP

Initiative 31: Eminent Domain

warrenbishop50@gmail.com

While some people may not know or understand eminent domain laws in Mississippi, for others it is a huge deal. “As of now, eminent domain allows government to take private property from people who are not willing to sell their land directly to the private corporation and use it as economic development,” Cy Rosenblatt, political science professor, said. People for this initiative feel like the government should not be able to take private land and hand it over to pri-

inside

Oxford taxi prices still under discussion

Proposed Ballot Title: Should government be prohibited from taking private property by eminent domain and then transferring it to other persons? Proposed Ballot Summary: Initiative #31 would amend the Mississippi Constitution to prohibit state and local government from taking private property by eminent domain and then conveying it to other persons or private businesses for a period of 10 years after acquisition. Exceptions from the prohibition include drainage and levee facilities, roads, bridges, ports, airports, common carriers, and utilities. The prohibition would not apply in certain situations, including public nuisance, structures unfit for human habitation, or abandoned property. INFOGRAPHIC BY KELSEY DOCKERY | The Daily Mississippian

vate corporations. Rosenblatt said that gubernatorial candidates and, more importantly, the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation are

From the Chancellor P. 4

among those in support of this initiative. Randy Knight, president of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, said in a column

Ole Miss vs. Kentucky Sports Editor Q&A theDMonline.com

Is getting a college degree worth the cost of student loan debt?

Vote at theDMonline.com


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