Key Senate Democrats Balk at Combining Student-Loan and Health-Care Bills

Key Democrats in the U.S. Senate are balking at a potential strategy for winning approval of student-loan legislation championed by President Obama but strongly opposed by loan companies, The Washington Post reported. The strategy would tie the measure to health-care-reform legislation in a “budget reconciliation” bill that could be approved by a simple majority without threat of filibuster. But some senators argue that that tactic could jeopardize both bills. The student-loan bill has run into political resistance in the face of lobbying by the student-lending industry and concerns about its cost. New estimates show that the bill may save less than expected, and that the programs it finances may cost more than anticipated.