November 12, 2007
Site Tallies Candidates' Positions on Student Aid
Washington — Voters often choose candidates on the basis of pocketbook issues. For college students that isn’t always easy, since most presidential campaigns tend to focus on big national issues, such as war and taxes.
But now students have some help. FinAid, a Web site that provides student financial-aid information, has compiled a summary table listing all major candidates in the 2008 presidential race and their known positions on issues affecting student aid.
The summaries include sections on grant proposals and loan proposals that the candidates have proposed or endorsed. In many cases, however, the table shows candidates as having no stated positions on student financial-aid issues.
The creator of FinAid, Mark Kantrowitz, says that absence itself is valuable, because it helps voters understand which candidates are paying attention to the issues.
“It is my hope that this compilation will encourage the presidential candidates to address student aid and support of higher education,” says Mr. Kantrowitz. “Many seem to not address the issue at all, and even those that do are often nonspecific and vague.”
Paul Basken | Posted on Monday November 12, 2007 | Permalink
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