gore & bush - education and politics - Brief Article

Matrix: The Magazine for Leaders in Education, Oct, 2000 by Jennifer C. Patterson, Nicole Rivard

matrix: What is the most important message that the higher-education community should take away from your campaign?

gore: As president, I want America not only to retain its prominence as a leader in the quality of our higher-education system, but to expand the number of Americans benefiting from higher education. Making college more affordable will help people invest in themselves--opening the doors of opportunity to help Americans reach their fullest potential well into the 21st century.

bush: Our greatest strengths are our faculty, students, and commitment to excellence, making America the world leader in higher education. Every year, U.S. colleges attract the best and the brightest students from all over the world. I want to make sure that higher education is affordable and accessible to every American. And therein lie our greatest weaknesses: college tuition and the burden of student indebtedness.

I am committed to helping families prepare for the cost of higher education. I will focus on helping American families save, coordinating student loan and grant programs more efficiently, and demanding that colleges be fiscally responsible in minimizing tuition costs. My tax plan cuts rates for everyone and doubles the child tax credit, which means today's parents in particular will have more resources to save for their children's education. I have also proposed expanding Education Savings accounts so parents can contribute up to $5,000 per child in an account and can withdraw the funds tax-free to use for college education.

I believe that as a nation, we need to use all the tools at our disposal to enhance educational opportunities for all Americans. I believe that these policies take us in the right direction.