Vote No on Student Loan Relief for Lawyers

Senate Bill 190 (Student Loans/Attorneys) provides for a financial assistance program administered by Justice Administrative Commission to provide assistance to qualified assistant state attorneys & assistant public defenders for repayment of eligible student loans, defines terms and program elements, and provides funding. The bill has passed in the Senate Governmental Oversight and Productivity Committee. Its next stop is the Senate Judiciary Committee. It is similar to House Bill 169.

As a teacher making $30,000 dollars after 6 years of service, I found it disturbing to read in the Orlando Sentinel (FL) that state lawmakers would like to help only law students with their student loans. Lawyers average much higher salaries than teachers, social workers and many other civil service careers. Jobs with the State attorneys office and Public defenders offices are often springboards to high paying careers in other areas of law. I dont know of a single teacher who will have the opportunity to make 6 figures after even 20 years of service let alone by the time they are 39. If lawmakers would amend this bill to include teachers, social workers, medical students willing to work for a low salary in public clinics, and other positions of this type, this line of thinking would be admirable. Unfortunately, it benefits only lawyers. Please sign my petition to our lawmakers asking them to vote against this bill as it is written.

By signing this petition, you are asking Florida Lawmakers to VOTE NO on Senate Bill 190 (Student Loans/Attorneys)

Katherine Harmon
Longwood Florida