Breakaway Senate Dems push student debt relief in New York State budget - GLENN BLAIN, NY Daily News

The Senate's influential Independent Democratic Conference is pushing to include a program for student debt relief in the upcoming state budget, the Daily News has learned. A plan crafted by conference leaders would offer New Yorkers saddled with hefty student loans assistance in paying them off and the ability, if necessary, to refinance the debt. "We cannot promise upward mobility to college graduates if their loans simply send them on a downward financial spiral," said Bronx Sen. Jeff Klein, leader of the eight-member conference that shares leadership of the Senate with the GOP. He noted the average graduate in New York has approximately $32,200 in student loan debt. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/breakaway-senate-dems-push-student-debt-relief-state-budget-article-1.2977000