Tuesday
Apr282009
The Budget: A "Transformative Package"
by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
This afternoon, on the eve of President Obama’s 100th day in office, progressive leaders addressed the budget and how it will improve health care, clean energy and education.
The campaign to Rebuild and Renew America Now!, a coalition of 116 national and over 700 state and local progressive, labor and advocacy organizations working together to pass the President’s budget held a press conference this afternoon and said they are confident that Congress will do what is best for the American people, and that is to pass it.
Alan Charney, the Program Director for US Action said that the budget is “transformative.”
“This blueprint totally reverses the failed economic policies of the past and sets us on a road to long term recovery,” said Charney
Tom McMahon, the Acting Executive Director of Americans United for Change criticized the Conservatives and blamed them for leading our nation into one of the most deepest recession in decades.
“Their best and in fact, only prescription for this ailing economy is more and more tax breaks for big corporations that have outsourced American jobs and more tax breaks for multi-millionaires that never manage to trickle down to anyone else and more short change investments in things that will actually grow the economy, like health care and education,” said McMahon.
The coalition members said that a clean energy legislation, health care reform and education are the most pressing issues that they hope the budget will improve.
“Congress now has the choice to stand up for our students and vote for a budget that works or they can continue to play into the pockets of the student lenders,” said Carmen Berkley, the President of the United States Student Association (USSA) and the United States Student Association Foundation (USSAF).
Berkley said that student lenders are ruining credit and dreams of students who are wanting to go to college.
Berkley also said that by eliminating programs that don’t work, like the family federal education loan program, it will put $94 billion more into the Pell grant program for students.
“We know that Congress will make an investment in students this week that works for students and their families,” said Berkley.
This afternoon, on the eve of President Obama’s 100th day in office, progressive leaders addressed the budget and how it will improve health care, clean energy and education.
The campaign to Rebuild and Renew America Now!, a coalition of 116 national and over 700 state and local progressive, labor and advocacy organizations working together to pass the President’s budget held a press conference this afternoon and said they are confident that Congress will do what is best for the American people, and that is to pass it.
Alan Charney, the Program Director for US Action said that the budget is “transformative.”
“This blueprint totally reverses the failed economic policies of the past and sets us on a road to long term recovery,” said Charney
Tom McMahon, the Acting Executive Director of Americans United for Change criticized the Conservatives and blamed them for leading our nation into one of the most deepest recession in decades.
“Their best and in fact, only prescription for this ailing economy is more and more tax breaks for big corporations that have outsourced American jobs and more tax breaks for multi-millionaires that never manage to trickle down to anyone else and more short change investments in things that will actually grow the economy, like health care and education,” said McMahon.
The coalition members said that a clean energy legislation, health care reform and education are the most pressing issues that they hope the budget will improve.
“Congress now has the choice to stand up for our students and vote for a budget that works or they can continue to play into the pockets of the student lenders,” said Carmen Berkley, the President of the United States Student Association (USSA) and the United States Student Association Foundation (USSAF).
Berkley said that student lenders are ruining credit and dreams of students who are wanting to go to college.
Berkley also said that by eliminating programs that don’t work, like the family federal education loan program, it will put $94 billion more into the Pell grant program for students.
“We know that Congress will make an investment in students this week that works for students and their families,” said Berkley.
tagged 
Alan Charney, Americans, Americans United for Change, Carmen Berkley, Congress, Energy, Health Care, Pell grant, President Obama, Rebuild and Renew America Now!, Tom McMahon, US Action, United States Senate Committee on Armed Services. afgha, United States Student Association Foundation, blueprint, budget, clean energy legislation, conservatives, credit, economy, education, jobs, progressive, recession, students in News/Commentary
Alan Charney, Americans, Americans United for Change, Carmen Berkley, Congress, Energy, Health Care, Pell grant, President Obama, Rebuild and Renew America Now!, Tom McMahon, US Action, United States Senate Committee on Armed Services. afgha, United States Student Association Foundation, blueprint, budget, clean energy legislation, conservatives, credit, economy, education, jobs, progressive, recession, students in News/Commentary
College Will Soon Be Cheaper, More Accessible, Says Education Secretary
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan touted recent changes to the education system Tuesday after President Barack Obama signed the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act.
Duncan, who spoke with reporters in a conference call, pointed to the expansion of Pell Grants as a major change and stressed that it will make college drastically cheaper and more accessible.
“Students are going to receive more Pell Grants,” said Duncan. “You can literally going to school for free with these Pell Grants.”
Duncan also explained that Americans who choose a career in public service will receive benefits.
"If you go into public service... after 10 years of public service work, all of your debt will be forgiven.”
Director of the Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes, who joined Duncan in Tuesday's call, outlined the Obama administration's long-term aim for education.
“[President Obama's] goal is that the nation should graduate the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by the year 2020,” Barnes said.