College Costs
Q: Is there anything the federal government should do to ease the costs of post-secondary education?
President Bush: "My 2005 budget requests a record $73.1 billion in financial aid to help nearly 10 million students attend college, an increase of $25.9 billion (55 percent) since I took office. I have increased Pell Grant funding 47 percent, helping 1 million more low-income students. My plan also provides students with the chance to receive up to $5,000 to study math or science. It is important that students graduate high school ready to do college-level work. No Child Left Behind and my high school reforms will ensure students are academically prepared for college so they are less likely to drop out. And I have proposed Enhanced Pell Grants to provide additional assistance to low-income students who complete challenging coursework in high school that prepares them to succeed."
John Kerry: "Absolutely. Unlike George Bush, I refuse to let it become harder and harder for families to send their kids to college and do better. As president, I will enact a College Opportunity tax credit on up to $4,000 a year for four years of tuition at a public university. I will ensure that this credit is eligible for 'advanced payment' so students get the resources they need when tuition is due. Unlike current credits, my tax credit will be refundable for those students who need help the most and for those who receive other credits. I will provide $10 billion in state fiscal relief for higher education, and I will offer a simple deal to hundreds of thousands of America's young people: If you will serve for two years in one of America's toughest and most important jobs, we will pay for four years of tuition at a public university."
Campaign Finance\n \nQ: What further campaign finance controls do you support, if any?
President Bush: "I signed the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, which is helping to improve the current system of financing for federal campaigns. I believe that we must expand individual freedom to participate in elections, and believe that the law should protect the rights of individuals not to have their money spent in support of candidates with whom they disagree. I support the protection of union members and shareholders from involuntary political activities undertaken by their leadership. I believe that 527s engaging in federal election activity should abide by the Federal Election Campaign Act and the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law -- be subject to federal contribution limits and disclosure requirements like all other federal political committees."
John Kerry: "I've fought for reform for decades because I believe people, not money, should decide our elections. Our government should work for all Americans, not just a powerful few. That means we need to make sure that campaign contributions from wealthy interests and lobbyists don't drown out the voices of regular Americans. I'm proud that I was elected to the Senate four times without taking a dollar of PAC money, and I was one of the earliest supporters of ending soft-money contributions to political parties. I co-sponsored legislation that was even stronger than the McCain-Feingold law that finally brought reform to our campaign finance laws. My approach would have closed the 527 loophole."
Countdown to Election: 46 days
