Obama in Nevada: Slams Lawmakers Over Low-Rate Student Loans

(LAS VEGAS) -- Touting his efforts to make college more affordable, President Obama, on Thursday, blasted lawmakers for failing to extend low-rate student loans.

“This is a no-brainer,” the president told students at a campaign-style rally at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “I’ve just said to Congress: Get this done. Get it done … this is not complicated.”

The event was the latest in the president’s push to boost support among young voters and contrast his education policies with those of Congressional Republicans and presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney.

Both the administration and Republican lawmakers want to prevent interest rates on a popular student loan from doubling at the end of the month, but remain deadlocked over how to pay for it.

Thursday, the president accused Republicans of stalling on the legislation and urged them to “get to work” and extend the low rates.

“The number one thing Congress should do for you … right now, is to stop interest rates from student loans from doubling at the end of the month,” he said to applause. "The clock is running out. You know, in today’s economy, higher education can’t be a luxury. It’s an economic necessity. Everybody should be able to afford it.”

Republicans, however, have launched their own offensive, accusing the president of playing politics with the issue and urging him to come back to Washington to work on a solution.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio