Breakin' It Down III

In today's lesson (courtesy, once again of Newsweek), we learn that the Dems would rate education as their #2 spending priority, while McCain gives that honor to border security. Hold tight to your chalupas kiddies. (For the earlier lessons, check here and here.)

Obama: The next JFK puts $75 billion on the line for his educational dreams. Not only does Obama want to give a refundable $4,000 tax credit on tuition (I assume this is for college), but he wants Pell Grants to keep up with inflation—imagine that! He also has funds set aside to create universal access to preschool ($10 billion goes to this). The final main point, setting up 40,000 scholarships for teachers and grants for drop-out prevention.

Clinton: Clinton outspends Obama, pledging $88 billion for her education plan. She ditches No Child (since it already ditched the children, why not?). Also for the K-12 set, she wants to bring in new teachers and principals (your principal is your PAL!) and expand after-school programs. For those going beyond 12th grade, she wants to give a $3,500 college tax credit, give some moola to community colleges and increase AmeriCorps scholarships and Pell Grants.

McCain: For McCain, his top two area of spending focuses on border security. As the sponsor of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 (look Ma—it's comprehensive!) he has already put $18.5 billion on this area through 2012. On top of that, McCain wants to throw another $5 billion on the pile to construct a high-tech border fence along our southern border. Grand total?(Since McCain isn't keen on education, I will do the math for you.) $23.5 billion.

Well, that about does it. For the final installment, we will take a gander at the three candidates energy plans, believe it or not this makes the #3 spot for all of them. Woohoo!