governmentspending

White House Announces Plan to Ease Student Loans

Noting that it took President Obama 10 years to pay back his student loans, White House officials today announced a new presidential initiative aimed at helping others pay back the cost of their higher educations. Student loans have overtaken credit cards as the nation's largest source of debt.

Coping With Autism in New Jersey's Budget

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has made autism services a priority in his proposed budget for the 2012 fiscal year. But some services may still suffer cuts: nonprofit Autism NJ says it's set to lose a state contract -- and Medicaid cuts also could reduce autism services, activists say.