"Lenders and schools in Colorado are fighting to save a program that once accounted for more than 80 percent of federal student loans in the state," The Denver Post reports. "Eliminating the program, which guarantees student loans that banks, Sallie Mae and state-affiliated student lending arms such as CollegeInvest provided, could save taxpayers $94 billion over 10 years in lower costs and higher interest income, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. If approved, elimination of the program wouldn't take effect until the 2010-11 academic year. The government recently has taken on a larger share of the student-loan market after higher capital costs and lower government incentives pushed many FFELP lenders to stop or reduce student lending. But eliminating FFELP would leave students with fewer borrowing options, reduce the customer service they receive and potentially contribute to higher defaults, backers of the current program argue."