The federal student loan rate just doubled for many scholars, university tuition costs continue to climb, and sequestration threatens grants to many large universities. But Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.), who chairs the House Education and Workforce Committee, didn’t get a single campaign contribution from the beginning of April to the end of June from any students, professors, faculty, teachers’ groups or nonprofit universities.

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The for-profit education industry, however, accounted for almost one quarter of his substantial fundraising in 2013’s second quarter.

Kline raised $482,000 in the second quarter, according to FEC reports filed today. Of that sum, at least $116,000 came from PACs operated by for-profit universities or top executives at those companies. Executives at ITT Education Services , the company that owns the large chain of for-profit technical schools ITT Tech, combined to give Kline $13,400 over the three month period. Executives from the Apollo Group , which owns University of Phoenix, gave $11,600; Full Sail University , $10,400; Globe University, $10,000; and Grand Canyon University, gave $9,500.

PACs operated by another 29 for-profit education groups, and/or individuals who work for them, also chipped in, including a $5,000 donation from the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities . That makes it Kline’s top industry donor for the quarter, by far. Not a single individual who self-identified as a student, faculty or staff member of a nonprofit university contributed any money to his campaign. Based on an analysis of his filing, the only other donation from an education-related organization or individual was a $5,000 donation from the PAC of Sallie Mae, the student loan company.



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