Collegiate Times

The recent healthcare law allows young-people to stay on their parents insurance until they are 26. Do you believe “Obamacare” is positive for students who have graduated without jobs?

I don’t think you need it for that purpose... Human beings who are under the age of 26, as a general rule, are healthy... You’ve already seen the insurance companies state they don’t care if it’s in Obamacare or not, they’re keeping it because you feel more comfortable as a student having that insurance and the insurance companies figured out … they make money. They suddenly have a large pool of healthy people that they’re getting a premium for.

Just to clarify, you believe that the insurance companies are actually the ones benefiting more than the students?

No, I think both are benefiting because the insurance company is making money, but if you’re a 24 year old living at home you’d much rather have insurance, so it’s a peace of mind factor... So, it’s a win win, there’s no question about that...(but) even if we didn’t do it at the federal level it would stay ,because the insurance companies would provide it because they’re making money off of it.

You have three younger children. What do you want for them when they go to college, what do you want for their future?

I want them to get the best education they can possibly get. I’m not one who believes that everyone should go to college, but statistically it’s probable that my children will want to go to college. I want them to be able to search for that dream, be able reach for that dream because I think it’s very important. Whatever course of action they choose, the best way to get there is through a college education. I grabbed the American dream, I want my kids to have that chance.

Is there anything I haven't asked you about that you think is really important for student voters to know?

I think they have to realize that we have to change what’s happening in Washington. Student loans are important, we need to keep those on track, and we need to work on making sure that it’s reasonable that you have an opportunity to get those loans paid off, but you have to be able to get a job when you come out. The policies that are going on in Washington right now are job killing and there’s absolutely no question about it.

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A version of this article appeared in the Oct 9 issue of the Collegiate Times.