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Economy

How Congress Can Help Young Professionals

WVIK News

Young adults need debt relief and help with child care. That was the message Thursday from some young professionals in the Quad Cities to two members of Congress - Dave Loebsack from Iowa's 2nd District and his guest from California, Eric Swalwell. 

Swalwell is chair of the Future Forum, a group of young democrats in the US House. 

And he asked those attending the listening session, "does our generation have the chance to do better than our parents ?"

"And if not, what do you think we can do to make sure that's the case. I think instinctively, as Americans we think you advance the bloodline, or pass the baton, and you're supposed to do better then give your kids a chance to do better."

"No" was the answer from those present, including from Davenport attorney Nathan Legue who says college debt is a problem for him and his wife, and for us. 

"I'm paying the mortgage on my house and then I pay a larger mortgage on my student loans. We have the income to pay that and service that debt, but we don't have anything extra. And unfortunately I think that's hamstringing what we could be doing in the community."

Emyline Slagle from Blue Grass wants debt relief, and greater acceptance by companies for family leave.  

"That's absolutely why I became a stay-at-home mom. I loved my job but it is because there was no leave, because child care is so expensive, it was just silly to pay someone else to raise my child."
Swalwell hopes Congress will consider allowing people to re-finance their student debt, and not charge them interest on the debt. 

This is the second listening session he's held with Dave Loebsack. He also participated in a similar session earlier this week in Chicago, and goes next to one in Des Moines. 

A native of Detroit, Herb Trix began his radio career as a country-western disc jockey in Roswell, New Mexico (“KRSY, your superkicker in the Pecos Valley”), in 1978. After a stint at an oldies station in Topeka, Kansas (imagine getting paid to play “Louie Louie” and “Great Balls of Fire”), he wormed his way into news, first in Topeka, and then in Freeport Illinois.