InsideHigherEd.com offers a look at how the presidential candidates are addressing higher ed issues as they look toward the 2008 elections.
While higher education isn’t at the top of any candidate’s agenda, the candidates all want to appear higher ed-friendly. The most populist of the field is Democratic candidate John Edwards, whose proposal to abolish guaranteed student loans in favor of direct lending is “unusually detailed for this early in a campaign,” InsideHigherEd.com reports. Following Edwards’ announcement, Barack Obama quickly followed suit with his own proposal to eliminate lender subsidies. While front-runner Hillary Clinton also backs direct lending, “she has not focused on eliminating the guaranteed program but on urging the adoption of a ‘Student Borrower Bill of Rights,’ which would assure students certain information about loan options, a choice of loan options, and income-based limits on their monthly repayment schedule.”
On the GOP side, things are apparently quieter. Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney both have discussed higher ed to some extent, but McClain and others have had little to say thus far. No doubt that will change as the campaign heats up over the summer months.
Andy writes! 