A Ticket to Success
Posted in News Clips on September 9th, 2008
U of M Student Emily and Her Stepdad John Listen
While Al Announces the “Ticket to Success”
At the University of Minnesota yesterday, Al proposed a new college tuition tax credit that would provide middle-class families with a $5,000 credit per student to help pay for college. U of M student Emily and her stepdad John spoke at the news conference as well about their family’s struggle with high tuition costs. Later in the day, Al spoke to students at a rally in Coffman Memorial at the U of M with Rep. Keith Ellison and other DFLers to kick off the DFL’s youth organizing campaign.
From the AP:
Franken said ensuring wide access to a college education is key to maintaining a strong middle class in the U.S.
…
“To me, this is particularly important to Minnesota families,” Franken said during a press conference at the University of Minnesota. “This is what the American dream is about.”
From the Minnesota Daily, the U of M student newspaper:
The day before primary elections, U.S. Senate hopeful Al Franken stopped at Minnesota’s education epicenter to pitch a plan to help students afford college.
The Democrat’s “Ticket To Success” tax credit would mean $5,000 per year, for up to four years, for students in middle-class households.
Each student in a family earning up to $200,000 annually would qualify for the break, which could go toward both public and private education institutions, as well as graduate school and community college.
Franken approximates that nationwide, his proposal could help up to 10 million students.
The $48 billion price tag would be paid over five years by rescinding the Bush administration’s tax cuts for Americans earning more than $1 million per year.
…
But as a first-year student just entering the University, Emily Larson would welcome Franken’s initiative.
Larson, a member of a student organization supporting Franken’s campaign, spoke before the Senate hopeful at Coffman Union and mused about her mounting college expenses.
Her stepfather, John Dreshar , also favored Franken’s proposal.
He noted the costs associated with his two college-student children, and that he has four more heading to campuses in coming years.
The struggling economy, Dreshar said, has left the construction worker with sparse job opportunities.
“I’m a little nervous about it,” he said, “on top of all the other problems.”
