Newspaper: Reforms overdue at PHEAA

The Mercury in Pottstown is aboard with state Auditor General Jack Wagner's recommendations for reforming Pennsylvania's troubled student-aid agency, PHEAA.

From The Mercury editorial:

Auditor General Jack Wagner examined PHEAA's spending and management practices from July 1, 2004, to June 30, 2007 and found that the agency spent $121 million on management salaries; $62.5 million in fees related to contracts with technology and advertising consultants, law firms and lobbyists; and $30 million on advertising and promotional expenses.

That is all money that could have — and should have — gone to help Pennsylvania students pay for higher education.

Wagner's report makes it clear there is more work to be done. The pattern of salaries and perks is one problem, but another is seeing that the agency is directed by financial and educational experts instead of legislators who have been collecting perks from serving.

PHEAA exists to assist the young people of Pennsylvania — taxpayers and future taxpayers — with acquiring a college education.

Wagner's scrutiny is aimed at insuring that focus becomes the primary focus of PHEAA — anything short is simply unacceptable.

Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.