McCaskill's education policy uncertain
Published Dec. 1, 2006
While campaigning, Senator-elect Claire McCaskill made about 12 stops in the Columbia area, several of which were on campus or places that have a large student base. Her most recent stop on campus was Oct. 14, at a rally on Tiger Plaza.
"I need (students)," McCaskill said in a news conference the same day. "I need their help, and I respectfully ask for some of their time and their energy ... maybe one or two less keggers between now in the first Tuesday in November, one or two or three less hours IMing and doing the Internet stuff and maybe a few more hours helping us make phone calls and knocking on doors would be great."
Many students worked with the Missouri Democratic Party to support McCaskill's bid for the U.S. Senate and now wait to see what effect McCaskill's election will have on their lives.
"At this point, she has her platform issues for the campaign," said Adrianne Marsh, spokeswoman for the McCaskill senate campaign. "It lists her tax cuts and plans, and talks about what she would do for higher education. She clearly wants to make that a focus once she gets there."
Fundamental aspects to McCaskill's stance on higher education are affordability of college tuition, increases in Pell grants and Hope scholarships, student loan relief and support of the Direct Loan Program. The Direct Loan Program is run through the Federal Student Aid Department and encompasses such programs as Stafford loans, PLUS loans and consolidation loans.
McCaskill's Web site said the Direct Loan Program will benefit Missouri students by allowing them to borrow money from the federal government directly, bypassing middlemen and saving more money.
"We've had a number of things like Pell grants cut, so she certainly wants to be an advocate in the lives of students," Marsh said.
Marsh said that because McCaskill has not been sworn in yet, it is unclear whether McCaskill will introduce new bills or use her positions on multiple committees to make these changes. Marsh detailed other of McCaskill's key issues from her campaign that have certain importance to students, outside of the realm of higher education.
"Implementing middle-class tax cuts would provide tax credits for things like first-time home buyers, college tuition and child care," Marsh said. "She wants to make sure that we try to boost the engine of the economy by making sure students have what they need when they get out of college."
College Democrats President Nate Kennedy believes McCaskill's focus on these issues will have a widespread impact on students as a whole.
"She's going to work on a national raise of the minimum wage, we've already got it raised in Missouri here, of course," Kennedy said. "That will help a lot of other college students around the nation."
Some Republicans are skeptical of the benefits of McCaskill's election and believe that students could potentially suffer from her election.
"I think, in general terms, having Democrats like McCaskill in the Senate is going to be problematic for the students and their parents, simply because Democrats have a tendency to raise taxes," said Paul Sloca, Missouri Republican Party spokesman. "It means less money in the pockets of parents and students, and therefore it makes it harder for them to actually afford to go to school."
Sloca also raised concern at a national level for the quality of state-funded higher education.
"The president has been committed to funding education," he said, "and with Democrats in control of Congress, there's a chance that if the president is going to do something positive, the Democrats will step in the way simply to stand in the way."
Sloca feels the Democrats will strip away some of the accomplishments of the Republican majority and impede progress toward more quality higher education.
Other Republicans hope for a partnership between McCaskill and current Republican officials.
"My biggest hope is that Senator-elect McCaskill will work in tandem with Sen. Bond, who has been a strong advocate for the UM system," College Republicans President Nick Haynes said. "Fiscally, the biggest impact that Senator-elect McCaskill can have is working to get her side to direct federal funds towards the state in general. As far as quality of education goes, it ties back to funding."