September 15, 2008
Presidential Candidates Co-Sponsor Public-Service Bill
Washington — Both leading presidential candidates are backing a bill that would build on the AmeriCorps public-service program.
The bill, dubbed the Serve America Act, would create a new 175,000-member “corps” of public servants focusing on “specific national challenges,” such as school improvement, energy efficiency, and health care. Like AmeriCorps participants, the new “corps” members would receive money for college or loan forgiveness.
The bill, which has not yet been posted online, would also offer tax incentives to employers who allow their workers to take time off to volunteer, and would create a “volunteer generation fund” to help nonprofit organizations recruit and manage more volunteers.
Sen. Barack Obama, a Democrat of Illinois, and Sen. John McCain, a Republican of Arizona, are among the bill’s sponsors. The chief sponsors are Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a Democrat of Massachusetts, and Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, a Republican of Utah.
Kelly Field | Posted on Monday September 15, 2008 | PermalinkComments
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I note from the NYT that Obama will give $4000 a year to each college student who performs 100 hours of community service. That sounds great as it is $40/hour and only costs $10 billion. We need lots of more $ for community service programs.
— fred douglas Sep 15, 03:27 PM #