END COLLEGE-AID REJECTIONS FOR DRUG CONVICTIONS

You can murder, rape, steal or forge a check and still get federal
financial aid for college. But if you get convicted for having a
marijuana joint in your pocket, the federal government may deny you
bucks for higher education.

In all its wisdom, Congress made a drug conviction the one offense
that disqualifies someone from receiving aid.

Congress should remove the restriction.

According to new data from the U.S. Department of Education, nearly
200,000 people, including 2,367 Iowans, have been turned down for
federal financial aid since application forms included a question
about drug convictions. Iowa is above the national average for the
percentage of people losing college aid.

When the law was originally created in 1998, it affected people with
prior drug convictions. In February 2006, Congress should have taken
the opportunity to eliminate the penalty altogether. It didn't, but
did narrow its scope. It's now applicable only to those convicted
while enrolled in college and receiving aid.

Still, it makes no sense that students' convictions for drug crimes
may cause them to lose financial aid.

If anything, those convicted of drug offenses should be encouraged to
buckle down, stay in school and prepare for a better future.

Dropping the financial-aid penalty wouldn't mean treating students'
drug crimes lightly. They already face criminal penalties, possible
reprimands from their school and discrimination in jobs.

The government should be helping them get back on track - not making
it harder to do so.