Pres. Obama visits Ga. Tech to discuss student loans

ATLANTA — President Barack Obama traveled to Atlanta on Tuesday to give remarks at the Georgia Tech campus. The president also planned to attend a fundraising event for the Democratic National Committee.
 
Air Force One landed at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport around 12:15 p.m. Congressman Hank Johnson and Admiral Sandy Winnefeld were with the President as he walked off the plane.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Fulton County Chairman John Eaves and Congressman David Scott were all at the tarmac to greet President Obama.

Several people got the rare chance to shake the hand of President Obama. Young Sydney Hnat tells Channel 2's Richard Elliot, "I was like 'Oh my gosh!' I'm shaking hands with the President. OMG!"

Sydney says this is something she'll remember for the rest of her life, and hope to tell her descendants someday.
 
President Obama's stop at Georgia Tech focused on the president's efforts to expand Americans' access to college. He told the crowd he takes student debt personally, because it took he and the first lady took ten years to payback their student loans.

"Higher education has never been more important, but it's also never been more expensive," said President Obama.

Earlier this year, the president announced an initiative that would allow qualifying students to attend two years of community college for free. He says one of his top priorities is to improve college affordability.

"I think it's a great idea," student Johnnie Hughes said." I think a lot of people should definitely have access to community college."

"Today, a college degree is the surest ticket to the middle class and beyond," President Obama said. "It's the key to getting a good job that pays a good income."
 
President Obama announced his student aid bill of rights; a law setting up a complaint line for debtors who run into trouble with their loans, and making sure every borrower has the right to an affordable payment plan.

The president says his plan will streamline and improve how the government interacts with student borrowers. 
 
President Obama's student aid bill of rights requires companies to better inform borrowers about their repayment options and delinquent payments.

President Obama is also telling loan servicers to apply extra payments first to the highest-interest loans, helping students pay off debt quicker. 
 
The president signed the student bill of rights in the Oval Office shortly before departing for Atlanta.

A small group of protesters called "Overpasses for America" stood outside the Georgia Tech building where President Obama spoke. Ellen Pearsall with Overpasses for America told Channel 2 Action News, "Free is not free. Someone is paying for it so they just print more money, spend more money and our debt goes up and up and up!"

Several energetic students leaving the event told Channel 2 Action News how impressed they were with the president's speech. Georgia Tech student Michelle Tourchak says, "I think it's great that he's trying to get the nation together on this, because every state does its own thing education wise."

During his speech, President Obama made sure to let students know there is no silver bullet for the student loan problem.

"It's not something that I think people should disagree on that much, education matters to Republicans or Democrats so it shouldn't be a problem," said Georgia Tech student Umaria Aslam.

The Republican National Committee and U.S. Senator David Perdue questioned the credibility of President Obama on this topic.

WSBTV