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Kerry's take on college
By Nicole Stanley
Collegian Reporter
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. John
Kerry, embarked on his college campus tour this week, gathering
student support and promising tuition aid.
Kerry said throughout his campus tour that
the 28 percent tuition increase within the past three years
was a product of the negligent Bush administration.
In a conference call with college students
from across the nation, Kerry said that he plans to offer a
$25 billion aid program to the states for one year in order
to stop what he termed "the hemorrhaging."
"George Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy
have meant a tuition tax increase for students," he said.
"In November, you have a choice-a choice between common
sense and a failed economic policy."
Because of the high tuition increases of the
past three years, Kerry said he plans to offer $50 billion in
tax credits to allow more students to attend all four years
of college. This tax break will give each student a $4,000 credit
toward his education.
In addition to this, Kerry said he plans to
institute a program that would exchange two years of community
service for tuition at any four-year public college or university.
To pay for his proposals, Kerry said he will
reverse the tax cuts on the top income bracket that President
Bush instituted and decrease the amount of wasted spending he
sees in the current administration.
The Bush camp, however, said in the New York
Times that they are skeptical about how Kerry's promises will
add up. On his official campaign Web site, www.georgebush.com,
Kerry's campaign promises are shown to add up to more than $977
billion within five years.
These numbers, the Bush campaign said, are
on top of the nation's current budget and do not include promises
for which Kerry has not specifically stated a figure.
In response to a question on his budget plan during the student
conference call, Kerry said that he may have to re-think the
budget in the future and this may include cuts in his $25 billion
state aid plan as well as the community service program. However,
he said would not cut back the $50 billion tax credit that goes
directly to the student.
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