Obama Camp Memo on College Affordability
The Obama Campaign Today – Tuesday, June 17
On tap for today:
Barack Obama continues his “Change that Works for You” Tour today with a meeting with students in Taylor, Michigan. Obama will discuss his plan to make an affordable college education a reality for every student. Media access begins at 10:00 AM EDT.
College affordability: John McCain doesn't have a real plan to put college within reach
When it comes to education, Senator McCain is out of touch with the needs of hardworking Americans. It's not just that he doesn't have a real plan to make college affordable; it's that he's voted time and time again to stop us from making college affordable. A couple of years ago, he even voted against funding for students so he could protect billions of dollars in corporate tax loopholes.
Barack Obama's plan to make college affordable for every student:
Provide a $4,000 American Opportunity Tax Credit. This fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university. Recipients of the credit will be required to give back by serving their community for 100 hours a year, either during the school year or over the summer.
Eliminate Costly Bank Subsidies. Obama will save taxpayers billions by eliminating the more expensive private loan program that exists today, and directing that money into direct aid for students. A transition to the direct lending system will also ensure that access to federal financial aid isn't disrupted future market turmoil.
Simplify the Application Process for Financial Aid. The current application for federal financial aid is longer and more involved than many federal tax return. Obama will simplify the financial aid process by eliminating the current form altogether. Instead, he'll base aid on a much simpler but equally accurate formula, so that students can predict their eligibility well in advance. And families will be able to apply simply by checking a box on their tax form, eliminating the need for a separate application.
Create a Community College Partnership Program. This initiative will help community colleges analyze what skills are needed to prepare students to work in local industry, and rewarding success by providing grants to community colleges that graduate more students and increase the number of their students who transfer to four-year colleges.
Help Students Become Aware of College Readiness. Too many high school students discover they are unprepared for college when it's already too late. Barack Obama will provide $25 million in matching funds annually to states that develop Early Assessment Programs that help inform students early what they'll need to do to prepare for college.
Front Pages in Detroit Today:
http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr.asp?fpVname=MI_DFP_pge=gal_pge=1 <http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr.asp?fpVname=MI_DFP&ref_pge=gal&b_pge=1> <http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr.asp?fpVname=MI_DFP&ref_pge=gal&b_pge=1 <http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr.asp?fpVname=MI_DFP&ref_pge=gal&b_pge=1> > <http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr.asp?fpVname=MI_DFP_pge=gal_pge=1 <http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr.asp?fpVname=MI_DFP&ref_pge=gal&b_pge=1> >
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Must-Reads:
Washington Times (Christina Bellantoni) "Democrats ride Obama's surge": Down-ticket Democratic candidates usually limited to stumping for votes along parade routes and shaking hands with 40 people at pancake breakfasts will get a nice boost this year, thanks to the man at the top of the ticket. Presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama can easily draw 3,000 people for a midday town hall rally - and upwards of 20,000 for evening rallies - and that means city council, congressional and Senate candidates from across the country will have the good fortune over the next four months to be his warm-up acts. Democrats argue the sheer crowd size will help hopefuls in November, and some are excited they will be treated to captive audiences in the thousands. "When he comes to Tennessee, we'll have every significant Democrat running at the event, unless they don't want to be there, and they are crazy if they don't want to be there," said Bob Tuke, a candidate for U.S. Senate and former Tennessee Democratic Party chairman. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jun/17/democrats-ride-obamas-surge/ <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jun/17/democrats-ride-obamas-surge/> <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jun/17/democrats-ride-obamas-surge/>
Detroit Free Press (Chris Christoff) "Obama's talk on education hits home at school": Barack Obama's plans to invest more taxpayer dollars on early education, college tuition tax credits and incentives for prospective teachers resonated with those attending his speech Monday at Kettering University in Flint. Willie Joseph, 20, an electrical engineering student at Kettering, said college has been a financial strain. "To guarantee that every student would have an education, or a chance to go to college, is phenomenal," Joseph said. Essence James, 24, an MBA student at Kettering, said Obama won her over Monday. Before his speech, she was undecided who she would vote for in November, but she especially liked Obama's education plans. "I was educated here in Flint," James said, "and I feel if he implements the plan he proposed, our schools here will have a greater education and a greater future." LINK <https://webmail.barackobama.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080617/NEWS06/806170397>
Detroit Free Press (Bill McGraw, Chris Christoff, Kathleen Gray and Suzette Hackney) "Endorsement from Gore adds to the excitement": Sen. Barack Obama brought his historic campaign to ground zero of the Rust Belt on Monday, asking 20,000 supporters at a raucous rally at Joe Louis Arena -- where he was endorsed by Al Gore -- to join him in his crusade of hope and faith. "I choose to believe in this great experiment in American democracy," he said. "There is a moment in the life of every generation when that spirit of hopefulness has to come through and this is our time." Gore, the former vice president and 2000 Democratic presidential nominee, joined Obama on stage. "This election matters more than ever before. After eight years of lost jobs, we need change," Gore said. "After eight years of the worst most serious foreign policy mistakes, we need change." LINK <https://webmail.barackobama.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080617/NEWS06/806170367>
