10 years later

I must preface this post by saying I voted for and support Barack Obama. But, I’m not drinking the kool-aid, and while I remain optimistic and hopeful about how he’ll lead this country, I decided to take a look at his campaign promises for higher education to keep tabs on his progress throughout his tenure.

On the official Barack Obama and Joe Biden campaign site, his promises and record on higher education are outlined.

Here’s what Obama promises-

• To create the “great American opportunity tax cut.” Straight from his Web site the cut 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 and make community college tuition completely free for most students.”
• Streamline the financial aid application process. Luckily my girlfriend, a recent college graduate, helped me with my FASFA, so I can’t comment on how difficult it was, but do know it was difficult enough for her to offer to do it for me. His process would allow families to apply by simply checking a box on tax forms.

Obama’s record, again from his own site:

One of Obama’s first bills in the U.S. Senate was to increase the Pell Grant to $5,100. He also worked to reform the Higher Education Act, a piece of national legislation regulating higher education signed in 1965.

Visit this OnTheIssues.org for more details about Obama’s record on higher education.

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