Create the American Opportunity Tax Credit: Obama will make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students. Obama will also ensure that the tax credit is available to families at the time of enrollment by using prior year's tax data to deliver the credit when tuition is due.
Simplify the Application Process for Financial Aid: Obama will streamline the financial aid process by eliminating the current federal financial aid application and enabling families to apply simply by checking a box on their tax form, authorizing their tax information to be used, and eliminating the need for a separate application.
pdf file of Obama's Higher Education plan.
Discusses eliminating costly Bank Loan subsidies programs.http://www.barackobama.com/issues/pdf/CollegeAffordabilityFactSheet.pdfhttp://www.barackobama.com/2007/11/07/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_31.phpVideo on Barack's education speech
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Obama has been a leader on educational issues throughout his career. In the Illinois State Senate, Obama was a leader on early childhood education, helping create the state's Early Learning Council. In the U.S. Senate, Obama has been a leader in working to make college more affordable. His very first bill sought to increase the maximum Pell Grant award to $5,100. As a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee, Obama helped pass legislation to achieve that goal in the recent improvements to the Higher Education Act. Obama has also introduced legislation to create Teacher Residency Programs and to increase federal support for summer learning opportunities.
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/education/#higher-educationSome of his accomplishments in his 8 years in the State Senate here:
http://obama.senate.gov/press/070620-higher_educatio/-----------------------
Assertive action against by Obama against predatory lending practice
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9fd5e4de-558e-11dc-b971-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1http://thinkonthesethings.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/obama-demands-investigation-into-subprime-loan-discrimination/