Obama and McCain on Education
September 9, 2008 - by Donny Shaw
(This is part of a series on legislation being sponsored in the Senate by presidential candidates Barack Obama (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ). Subscribe to our rss feed to get the rest.)
On a day when the two presidential candidates went back and forth over education policy, I figured I would take a look at some of the education-related legislation they are sponsoring in Congress.
As I began looking through the bills each candidate has sponsored this session (Obama’s, McCain’s), it was instantly that education policy marks a stark contrast in the candidates legislative records this session – while Barack Obama has proposed 11 bills directly related to education, John McCain has introduced zero.
As is typical of senators from the minority party in Congress, McCain has introduced far fewer bills than Obama in general. Less than one-third, in fact. Still – and this isn’t scientific – I would say that 11 education bills is exceptionally high and zero is exceptionally low. Even looking at the Library of Congress’s Thomas.gov website for information on bills in the previous, 109th Congress, it doesn’t look like any of McCain’s bills last session were related to education policy.
I planned on doing a general comparison of the candidate’s education bills, but, instead, here’s a quick and dirty overview of Barack Obama’s education legislation – click on the bill numbers for way more information:
>S.3047 – Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Act of 2008
>
>A bill to provide for the coordination of the Nation’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education initiatives.
>
>S.2428 – National STEM Scholarship Database Act
>
>A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to establish and maintain a public website through which individuals may find a complete database of available scholarships, fellowships, and other programs of financial assistance in the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
>
>S.2227 – Success in the Middle Act of 2007
>
>A bill to provide grants to States to ensure that all students in the middle grades are taught an academically rigorous curriculum with effective supports so that students complete the middle grades prepared for success in high school and postsecondary endeavors, to improve State and district policies and programs relating to the academic achievement of students in the middle grades, to develop and implement effective middle school models for struggling students, and for other purposes.
>
>S.2111 – Positive Behavior for Effective Schools Act
>
>A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and schools to increase implementation of early intervention services, particularly school-wide positive behavior supports.
>
>S.2066 – Back to School: Improving Standards for Nutrition and Physical Education in Schools Act of 2007
>
>A bill to establish nutrition and physical education standards for schools.
>
>S.Res.268 – A resolution designating July 12, 2007, as “National Summer Learning Day”
>
>Designates July 12, 2007, as National Summer Learning Day. Urges people to promote summer learning activities to send youth back to school ready to learn, support working parents and their children, and keep children safe and healthy during the summer months.
>
>S.1574 – Teaching Residency Act
>
>A bill to establish Teaching Residency Programs for preparation and induction of teachers.
>
>S.1513 – Predominantly Black Institution Act of 2007
>
>A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize grant programs to enhance the access of low-income African-American students to higher education.
>
>S.1389 – Climate Change Education Act
>
>A bill to authorize the National Science Foundation to establish a Climate Change Education Program.
>
>S.116 – Summer Term Education Programs for Upward Performance Act of 2007
>
>A bill to authorize resources to provide students with opportunities for summer learning through summer learning grants.
>
>S.114 – Innovation Districts for School Improvement Act
>
>A bill to authorize resources for a grant program for local educational agencies to create innovation districts.
On education, at least, it does appear that Barack Obama is the “change” candidate. For information on McCain’s legislative record, see his “”http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=eb39163a-67bf-481f-9adf-9187d55fd3af">education" issue portal on his senatorial website. And for good measure, here’s Obama’a education portal.

Blog - Obama



Sort By
Comments ?
What's this?
OpenCongress comment boards are an open forum for discussion. Let's build public knowledge about Congress together, so please keep the discussion civil -- no harsh language, subject to our community Comment Policy. Do not post any information here (for example, your name or email) that you do not wish to be public.
Filter Comments to a Rating of at least
What's this?
The Ratings Filter allows you to determine how many user comments to view on pages here on OpenCongress. Setting the filter higher (towards 10) allows you to see only the comments rated "most helpful" by users, while setting the filter lower (towards 0) allows you to see more comments on a page.
What about the foreign eduction bills?
What percentage of Obama's bills are for only African Americans? Foreign aid for Africa? Africom? MCC countries? Nutrition programs?
Everyone needs grants.
H.R.4137 has to be reflected as a bigot bill?
Barack Obama and other high profile politicians are attempting to limit the right to use on-demand, short term financial assistance. A number of cities and towns are also attempting bans on the industry, with several more attempting to follow suit. American citizens from all across the nation are fighting the legislation hoping to have their voices heard to prevent the abolishment of the payday loan industry. Regardless of the hundreds of thousands of potential jobs lost, these politicians are encouraging the elimination of this matter generally for personal political gain.
Post Courtesy of Personal Money Store
Professional Blogging Team
Feed Back: 1-866-641-3406
Home: http://personalmoneystore.com/NoFaxPaydayLoans.html
Blog: http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/
Many politicians, like Obama are in a quest to limit the American peoples’ access to on demand, short term financial assistance. Some select states are even putting restrictions on where short term loan companies conduct their business and some have even gone as far as to ban the industry all together. While citizens across the nation are fighting legislation that could potentially eliminate the payday loan industry, politicians are seeking personal political gain by attempting a complete ban. The politicians should consider the hundreds of thousands of potential lost jobs in an already turbulent economy.
Post Courtesy of Personal Money Store
Professional Blogging Team
Feed Back: 1-866-641-3406
Home: <a href="http://personalmoneystore.com/NoFaxPaydayLoans.html">link</a>
Blog: <a href="http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/">link</a>
High-level politicians, including Barack Obama, are in quest of limiting the American peoples’ access to on-demand, short term financial support. A number of cities and townships are attempting to enforce limitations on where these lawful businesses can operate. Still worse, is that several states, including Georgia and North Carolina, have effectively forced all-out bans on the trade, with several more trying to follow suit. Citizens all around the nation are looking to have their voices paid attention to by aggressive legislation that would eradicate the payday loan industry nationwide; Obama, and other mislead political officials, are pushing for an absolute ban in the name of personal political gain, in spite of the hundreds of thousands of eventual lost jobs in an already difficult economy.
I'm not sure where i am going to cast my vote this election year however i do think education must be addressed. America for many years was thee opportune place to send your kids to college. Other countries have always coveted an American education but the last several years has coined the term <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_United_States">The dumming down of America</a>.
The tide has now turned as many who possess the funds are sending their children abroad to foreign colleges for a better education.
I think Obama's focus on education is his strongest point but have to say his inexperience concerns me. With the many economic issues aready facing our country, due to the banks and the current mortgage crisis, you struggle to reason why Obama would seek to limit peoples short term financial support as people are needing more help now then ever.
Institutions like the <a href="http://personalmoneystore.com">payday loan</a> industry and other small business should not be consumed by the animosity that the large banks have caused among consumers. We cannot afford to have the freedoms of many diminished by the corruption of a few.
Vote for freedom in November!
I'm not sure where i am going to cast my vote this election year however i do think education must be addressed. America for many years was thee opportune place to send your kids to college. Other countries have always coveted an American education but the last several years has coined the term "The dumming down of America".
The tide has now turned as many who possess the funds are sending their children abroad to foreign colleges for a better education.
I think Obama's focus on education is his strongest point but have to say his inexperience concerns me. With the many economic issues aready facing our country, due to the banks and the current mortgage crisis, you struggle to reason why Obama would seek to limit peoples short term financial support as people are needing more help now then ever.
Institutions like the payday loan industry and other small business should not be consumed by the animosity that the large banks have caused among consumers. We cannot afford to have the freedoms of many diminished by the corruption of a few.
Vote for freedom in November!
In the classic novel, Brave New World, author Aldous Huxley warns his readers of what could happen if the government gained total control of our daily lives. First published in 1932, Huxley wrote the book trying to imagine how his hometown of London might be in the year 2540, based on the increasing number of programs to end war, conflict, suffering, and antagonistic (aka: “free”) thought. In other words, the book is a portrayal of what the world would look like if the voice of the people was ignored, and people could not live free of the government. Huxley had and continues to have many critics. Several government programs and policies have been put into place that have structured America into a place very similar to Huxley’s 2540 London. It’s true that the communist and socialist ideals have been present in America for years, but never have these movements been too prevalent—until now. Thanks to present-day politicians, socialism and communism are creeping into U.S. government practices, which in turn, transfer our liberties into the hands of the government. As an example, elected officials have created regulations on where fast food restaurants can open up in Los Angeles. Sadly, the “man” is taking it to you and telling you that you can’t get a greasy burger and milkshake in South L.A. Even scarier are the state and national politicians that want to limit, or even eliminate, your access to fast, easy payday loans. Politicians want to win votes, and eliminating the payday loan industry is, for some reason, a good way to accomplish that goal. This necessitates action. We need to fight the against government’s ever-tightening stranglehold on our everyday lives.
Post Courtesy of Personal Money Store
Professional Blogging Team
Feed Back: 1-866-641-3406
Home: http://personalmoneystore.com/NoFaxPaydayLoans.html
Blog: http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/
A transcript was run in The New York Times of John McCain’s stump speech in Dayton Ohio, and the senator from Arizona seems to be spoiling for a fight. “I’m an American,” he said, “and I choose to fight. Don’t give up hope. Be strong, have courage, and fight.” He calls to fight for what’s right in America, like justice and opportunity for the children. However, with things like Issue 5 going before Ohio voters, McCain still wouldn’t gloss over the dark clouds ahead. He’s pointing out that “Barack the Redistributor” will spread the wealth around, but not help to create more. Obama believes taxes are too low, whereas McCain thinks that the spending of the last eight years has been too high. Payday loans do not irk McCain as much as Obama’s promise to bail out Wall Street with $750 billion of taxpayer’s money. McCain, the “maverick” plans to “get the economy out of the ditch and back in the lead,” which he thinks will make it possible for Americans to pass a better life onto their children and their grandchildren.
Post Courtesy of Personal Money Store
Professional Blogging Team
Feed Back: 1-866-641-3406
Home: http://personalmoneystore.com/NoFaxPaydayLoans.html
Blog: http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/