Mike Derrick is like a baby deer

Has anyone else noticed that NY-21 candidate Mike Derrick is like a fawn trying to stand up for the first time?  Just when you think that maybe, just maaaaybe the cute little fawn will make it to its feet, BOOM, the fawn comes crashing down.  Derrick’s latest “fawn moment” is his opposition to Elise Stefanik’s year-round Pell bill.

If Derrick would utilize free thinking for a change instead of constantly taking his orders from the DCCC, maybe he would have noticed that Stefanik’s year-round Pell bill has overwhelming support.  Heck, the Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY) system went so far as to co-author an op-ed with Stefanik stressing the importance of the bill.  It’s also supported by colleges in Stefanik’s district, including: Adirondack Community College; Jefferson Community College; SUNY Plattsburg and Clarkson University.

Keep on keeping on, Mike.  Maybe one of these days you’ll finally sound like you know what you’re talking about.

NRCC Comment:  “Mike Derrick needs to do his homework on the issues important to the North Country for a change, instead of constantly taking his marching orders from Nancy Pelosi and the DCCC. Mike Derrick continues to demonstrate that he just wants to smear Elise Stefanik, including her efforts to make it easier for students to pay for college.” -NRCC Spokesman Chris Pack

Statements of support:

Carole A. McCoy, President, Jefferson Community College: “The Flexible Pell Grant for 21st Century Students Act will positively impact low income students’ ability to meet their educational goals.  With access to Pell during the summer months, students may continue their studies year-round and accelerate degree completion.  We believe adult students, in particular, who desire to complete their degree and enter the workplace as quickly as possible will greatly benefit from the act.  Additionally an increase in the annual Pell maximum helps to make higher education more affordable for the neediest students who work diligently throughout the year to obtain their educational credentials and graduate.”

Tony G. Collins, President, Clarkson University: “As an institution with more than 30% of our student body eligible for Pell awards, Clarkson University applauds Congresswoman Stefanik’s introduction of the Flexible Pell Grant for 21st Century Students Act.  This legislation addresses the needs of contemporary students by giving them more options on when they complete degree requirements and gets them into the workplace faster. Clarkson students take a semester off to pursue internships or cooperative educational experience in order to apply classroom learning, gain practical skills, and confirm further specialization of knowledge in upper level courses.  By providing year round flexibility in accessing aid, this Act allows students to stay on pace to graduate in four years or less and immediately compete for the best jobs.”

Kristine Duffy, President, SUNY Adirondack: “I support the Flexible Pell Grant for 21st Century Students Act introduced by Congresswoman Stefanik. Allowing our students to utilize PELL to continuously enroll through a summer session should support the Completion Agenda in a very tangible way and recognizes the need to support our under resourced students to achieve their goals. At SUNY Adirondack nearly 50% of our students receive a PELL grant and this legislation would remove one significant barrier to completion.”

Todd Moravec, Director of Student Financial Services, SUNY College at Plattsburgh: “By introducing the Flexible Pell Grant for 21st Century Students Act, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is providing high-need students with a means to graduate faster and accumulate less student debt along the way.”