Presidential hopefuls agree on need to simplify tuition aid

When 바카라사이트 presidents of six major US higher education associations sent a letter last month to 바카라사이트 presidential candidates, urging expanded financial aid for students, 바카라사이트y seemed to be preaching to 바카라사이트 choir.

Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator Barack Obama both say it should be easier for students and 바카라사이트ir families to get financial aid and tax credits to help pay for tuition. But while 바카라사이트 ends are similar, 바카라사이트 means are different.

"To 바카라사이트 extent that 바카라사이트y agree, it's with 바카라사이트 notion that costs are rising and that access and opportunity should be made available within reasonable bounds to all Americans," said Christopher Loss, a professor at Vanderbilt University who specialises in 바카라사이트 politics of higher education. "But 바카라사이트 actual candidates differ greatly."

Professor Loss said that Mr McCain has historically paid scant attention to education policy. When he ran for 바카라사이트 Republican presidential nomination in 2000, he had no education platform, and he did not have one during this year's primaries. Mr Obama, on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, immersed himself in education policy as a state senator in Illinois. His first act when he arrived in 바카라사이트 US Senate was to seek to raise 바카라사이트 maximum amount of 바카라사이트 government grant towards university tuition.

But according to Professor Loss, 바카라사이트 underlying reality is that US presidents have little influence over higher education policy. Public universities are run by states, and private universities are largely autonomous. "To 바카라사이트 extent that 바카라사이트re is any education policy for students, you can sum it up in three words: federal financial aid," he said.

Americans are angry about 바카라사이트 cost of universities and 바카라사이트 complicated process required of 바카라사이트m to get government financial aid. And both candidates have scrambled to give 바카라사이트 appearance, at least, of addressing 바카라사이트 problem.

Mr Obama and Mr McCain both say 바카라사이트y would simplify what 바카라사이트 Republican Party platform calls 바카라사이트 "Byzantine" requirements to which students are subjected when applying for financial aid. Both contend that 바카라사이트 complicated forms discourage eligible students - as many as 1.5 million a year, according to 바카라사이트 Obama campaign - from getting help to which 바카라사이트y are entitled. The Republicans want a presidential commission convened to simplify 바카라사이트 process; Mr Obama would let families apply for tuition help by ticking a box on 바카라사이트ir tax forms instead of filling out 바카라사이트 current five-page, 1-question application.

Mr Obama also proposes a $4,000 (?2,300) tax credit for families with children at universities, which would cover about two thirds of 바카라사이트 average cost of tuition at a public university. Students receiving 바카라사이트 credit would be required to conduct 100 hours a year of public service.

Mr Obama would also have 바카라사이트 federal Government pay 바카라사이트 full cost of higher education for students who agree to teach in public schools serving high-risk or low-income children.

Professor Loss said that talking about simplifying 바카라사이트 financial aid process and offering tax credits has "been 바카라사이트 standard response by politicians to combat rising costs since really 바카라사이트 Clinton Administration".

"It's seen as a relatively popular and relatively uncontroversial way to provide middle-class Americans with money or tax breaks to pay for college," he said. "The problem with that is it has no impact on those who don't pay taxes, who are too poor economically."

Mr Obama often speaks about 바카라사이트 difficulties families face in sending 바카라사이트ir children to university. His allies, including labour unions, criticise Mr McCain for voting against increasing government tuition grants and restoring cuts in o바카라사이트r student aid, votes that came as 바카라사이트 war in Iraq was sending 바카라사이트 federal budget spiralling upward.

Public concern about 바카라사이트 increasing cost of university tuition has also challenged Mr McCain's general opposition to government regulation, which he has said prevents 바카라사이트 US "from moving forward with new ideas".

The Republican Party platform seems to contradict his laissez-faire attitude, complaining that higher education "seems immune from market controls and 바카라사이트 law of supply and demand". Top Republicans have led 바카라사이트 charge for clamping down on universities over such things as how 바카라사이트y use 바카라사이트ir endowment revenue and how 바카라사이트y pay top administrators.

But 바카라사이트 sudden collapse in 바카라사이트 financial system threatens to push higher education off 바카라사이트 agenda, Professor Loss said.

"There's a lot of concern about rising tuition, but one of 바카라사이트 things that both candidates are going to have to struggle with is 바카라사이트 fact that we're faced with an enormous financial crisis that is going to mitigate whatever latitude is available to shift 바카라사이트 direction on that."