gore & bush - education and politics - Brief Article

Present Views On Higher Education

Matrix asked the campaign staffs of Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore to provide opinions and positions on higher-education concerns. All questions were provided to both presidential candidates. The Bush campaign did not respond to all questions.

matrix: What do you see as the role of higher education in the 21st century? Is American higher education prepared to take on that role?

gore: While America has the most well-respected higher-education system in the world, more needs to be done to ensure that every child grows up knowing that college is within reach. That is why the Clinton-Gore Administration has vastly increased Pell Grants and doubled our national investment in student aid. The Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning Tax Credit have made the first two years of college universally available. But I believe that in the 21st century we must do even more to ensure that Americans have access to the higher education and lifelong learning opportunities that will help them succeed.

That is why I support a College Opportunity Tax Cut to make $10,000 of college tuition tax deductible. I have also proposed a National Tuition Savings Plan that allows families to save for college inflation-free and tax-free. And we must help all of our workers reach higher and reinvigorate our labor market by helping individuals upgrade their skills. That is why I have proposed a 401(j) program that lets employers and individuals contribute to savings accounts and let the earnings be withdrawn tax-free to pay for college or training.

bush: America's interest is best served by a strong education system--elementary, secondary, and collegian. Our greatest strengths are our faculty, students, and commitment to excellence, making America the world's leader in higher education. Every year, the United States' colleges attract the best and the brightest students from all over the world. Our nation's institutions of higher learning play an important role in our society, because an educated citizenry is our best insurance that we will remain the world's economic and military leaders.

matrix: To what degree should the federal government be involved in higher education? How would your administration be involved?

gore: While higher education has become ever more important for employability, salary level, and job satisfaction, it has also become more expensive. I believe the federal government has a substantial role in investing in our people and helping more Americans achieve their dreams by helping families save for college and making college more affordable. We should continue to increase support for Pell grants, work study, and community colleges.

bush: I trust colleges to make the best decisions when it comes to educating students.

However, college tuition has increased three times as fast as household incomes over the past 20 years, making it difficult for some families and students to afford college. During the same period, tuition for public and private college students has increased more than 200 percent on average and more than 4 percent over the last year. I will work to make college more affordable for more students by expanding student financial aid.

I believe the existing system of federal aid, which includes student grants, loans, work-study opportunities, campus-based programs, and tax code provisions is too complex and cumbersome. I favor a simple, well-proven delivery system of aid to our college students. The Pell grant program, for example, has proven to be very effective in opening the doors of opportunity to millions of Americans. I believe we should build on successful programs rather than create new ones.

To build on the Pell grant program, my administration would fully fund it and increase grants for first-year students to $5,100 from their current level of $3,300. This is an increase of more than 50 percent and I hope will encourage as many as 800,000 new students every year to attend college. In addition, my administration would reward students who take and pass rigorous courses in high school with additional money for college through enhanced Pell Grants. For instance, students who pass Advanced Placement math and science exams or college math and science level courses would receive an additional $1,000 to pay for college tuition.

Also, my $1.5 billion "College Challenge" Grant program will cover one-third of state costs to establish merit-based scholarships that reward students for taking rigorous curriculums. Of course, states will have freedom to design their own scholarship program, except for baseline course requirements.

matrix: What role, if any, should the U.S. Department of Education play in higher education? Do you favor a decreased or increased role for that department?

gore: As a member of Congress, I aided the U.S. Department of Education in playing a positive, pro-active role to ensure American higher education is the best in the world. I believe we have a commitment to make lifelong learning an affordable reality for all Americans, and as president I will continue to work with the Department of Education as a valuable partner in that effort.