You might think that when it comes to what's best for college students, politicians would abandon ideology and partisanship.

You might think they would at least use common sense.

Sadly, in this era of slash-and-burn politics, you would be wrong.

Here's what's at issue: President Obama has long advocated an expansion of the Pell Grant program for lower-income students, as well as ending federal subsidies for private lenders involved in the student loan business.

Last week, the House of Representatives, in a 253-171 vote, took the first step toward implementing this change. The Senate next will take up the measure, and with any luck soon it will become law.

Here's the depressing part: Only a handful of Republicans joined the Democrats in the House in this move that unquestionably will help American college students, from Jacksonville State University to the University of Oregon, from Samford to Stanford. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, was one of those who voted against the bill.

Expect the same partisanship to happen in the Senate.

Republicans say they are upset because the likes of Citigroup would be denied federal subsidies for being involved in student loan programs. Ending these subsidies and ending the scandals surrounding them would bring about tens of billions in savings each year. That's enough money to fund an expansion of the current Pell Grant program by about $40 billion — or by $1,400 to $6,900 per grant over the next decade.

Denying the big banks and other lenders a place at the government trough is really not something the GOP lawmakers ought to be standing up for at a time when most American families are struggling just to make ends meet and to send their kids to school.

Before the economic meltdown last fall, two-thirds of students in the United States borrowed to pay for their college education. The grease fire in the market place, the decimating of all those college savings accounts, has made it that much more difficult to pay for higher education.

Meanwhile, the Republicans seem more concerned about Citigroup and Bank of America.

Or do they?

What's really going on here has more to do with the politics of the moment than it does with the wants of the student-loan industry. What's up is that the GOP is bound and determined to oppose Obama no matter what the issue.

This is political strategy, jockeying for the off-year election next November. This is about what's good for the GOP.

Given the price of higher education in America, that is a sad statement, indeed.

We find ourselves at a moment when this administration will find scant Republican support no matter the issue, no matter what.

Given such a political reality — as the Pell Grant vote and the health-care debate have shown — it makes little sense to continue to try to include the GOP in the decision-making process.

If the Republicans do not want to be a part of solving the problems facing the nation, then the Democrats should use their substantial majorities to solve those problems without them.