A Breakdown of the Issues
Laura Carpenter
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: News
The presidential elections loom on the horizon - November 4 to be exact.. If voters want to learn where Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama stand on some of the issues affecting college students, they should peruse the list below. For more information go to www.Johnmccain.com and www.barackobama.com, These websites as well as the candidates' Senate voting records were used in compiling this data.
Education
When it comes to education, McCain favors more money for community college education. He also endorses parental choice for schools, including vouchers for private schools, but only when approved by local officials.
Obama wants a tax credit to pay up to $4,000 of college expenses for students who perform 100 hours of community service a year. He thinks universal pre-kindergarten programs are a good idea, but won't force the issue. He wants to expand teacher mentoring programs and reward teachers with higher pay not tied to standardized test scores, in an $18 billion plan to be paid for in part by delaying elements of moon and Mars missions.
Economy
McCain wants to lower the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent. He would allow first-year deduction of equipment and technology investments and establish a permanent research and development tax credit equal to 10 percent of wages spent on R&D.
Obama would pump $75 billion into the economy via tax cuts and direct spending targeted to working families, seniors, homeowners and the unemployed. The plan also includes $45 billion in reserves that can be injected into the economy quickly in the future if the economy continues on the way it's been. He would provide an immediate $250 tax cut for workers and their families and an instant, short-term $250 bonus to seniors in their Social Security checks. He also wants to provide an additional $250 tax cut to workers and an added $250 to seniors if the economy continues to worsen, that
could extend and expand unemployment insurance.
Education
When it comes to education, McCain favors more money for community college education. He also endorses parental choice for schools, including vouchers for private schools, but only when approved by local officials.
Obama wants a tax credit to pay up to $4,000 of college expenses for students who perform 100 hours of community service a year. He thinks universal pre-kindergarten programs are a good idea, but won't force the issue. He wants to expand teacher mentoring programs and reward teachers with higher pay not tied to standardized test scores, in an $18 billion plan to be paid for in part by delaying elements of moon and Mars missions.
Economy
McCain wants to lower the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent. He would allow first-year deduction of equipment and technology investments and establish a permanent research and development tax credit equal to 10 percent of wages spent on R&D.
Obama would pump $75 billion into the economy via tax cuts and direct spending targeted to working families, seniors, homeowners and the unemployed. The plan also includes $45 billion in reserves that can be injected into the economy quickly in the future if the economy continues on the way it's been. He would provide an immediate $250 tax cut for workers and their families and an instant, short-term $250 bonus to seniors in their Social Security checks. He also wants to provide an additional $250 tax cut to workers and an added $250 to seniors if the economy continues to worsen, that
could extend and expand unemployment insurance.
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