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Senate candidates on their way
Two of six candidates Democratic U.S. Senate nomination face off for role as policy-changing legislator
Gail Cole
Issue date: 5/20/08 Section: News
Both candidates see the need for changes in the funding of higher education.
"We have seriously under funded loans [and] Pell grants," Merkley said of the federal government.
Merkley plans to make this possible by expanding Pell grants and providing tax credits. "I propose that every family have a tax credit equal to $4,000 a year to help finance their children's college education."
"If we're going to have a knowledge based economy, we need to make it affordable to go to college," Merkley said.
Merkley elaborated on a bill he helped pass in the Oregon Legislature that allows for full tuition coverage for public universities and trade schools for the children of fallen service men and women who have fallen in the line of duty. He wants to take this bill to the national level.
Regarding education and the job market, Merkley wants to help create a "knowledge based economy," which promotes the medical, digital and communication industries. He also wants to promote "Green Collar" jobs, which are a part of the renewable energy industry in the U.S.
"We need to develop them and sell them to the world," he said of the green technology industry. "It's much better for us to be out front."
Merkley and Novick support an updated version of the GI Bill, which was passed in 1944 as a way to give military veterans access to education, health care and home ownership.
"Part of the way we built the great American middle class was through the GI Bill," Novick said. "It should be restored; I think it's outrageous for veterans returning home to limited access to health care and limited economic prospects."
Novick believes that the federal government should restore its administering of financial aid to the percentage it was in 1981, when he graduated from college debt-free.
He believes research and investing in renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, will provide quality jobs to Americas of all ages.
"We need to hire some of the best and brightest people" to research and implement renewable energy, Novick said.
"We have seriously under funded loans [and] Pell grants," Merkley said of the federal government.
Merkley plans to make this possible by expanding Pell grants and providing tax credits. "I propose that every family have a tax credit equal to $4,000 a year to help finance their children's college education."
"If we're going to have a knowledge based economy, we need to make it affordable to go to college," Merkley said.
Merkley elaborated on a bill he helped pass in the Oregon Legislature that allows for full tuition coverage for public universities and trade schools for the children of fallen service men and women who have fallen in the line of duty. He wants to take this bill to the national level.
Regarding education and the job market, Merkley wants to help create a "knowledge based economy," which promotes the medical, digital and communication industries. He also wants to promote "Green Collar" jobs, which are a part of the renewable energy industry in the U.S.
"We need to develop them and sell them to the world," he said of the green technology industry. "It's much better for us to be out front."
Merkley and Novick support an updated version of the GI Bill, which was passed in 1944 as a way to give military veterans access to education, health care and home ownership.
"Part of the way we built the great American middle class was through the GI Bill," Novick said. "It should be restored; I think it's outrageous for veterans returning home to limited access to health care and limited economic prospects."
Novick believes that the federal government should restore its administering of financial aid to the percentage it was in 1981, when he graduated from college debt-free.
He believes research and investing in renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, will provide quality jobs to Americas of all ages.
"We need to hire some of the best and brightest people" to research and implement renewable energy, Novick said.
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