Obama pressures colleges to lower costs

[Sefket]

By Richard Wolf, USA TODAY

CAPTION

By Jewel Samad, AFP/Getty Images

SOURCE

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- President Obama told more than 3,000 cheering students and others at the University of Michigan on Friday that he will press Congress for initiatives designed to make college more affordable and help students pay off their debts.

One element would pressure colleges to keep tuition costs down or face reductions in their federal assistance.

"We've got to have an economy in which every American has access to a world-class education," Obama said, crediting his success and that of first lady Michelle Obama to their own college educations -- financed with student loans.

The event was the last of five for the president over three days since his State of the Union Address on Tuesday night to a deeply divided Congress. Since then, he has crisscrossed the nation, stopping only in states that could be critical to his re-election in November.

On Wednesday, it was to tout his proposals to boost manufacturing, delivered in Iowa and Arizona. On Thursday, it was to push initiatives for developing more domestic energy sources, delivered in Nevada and Colorado.

Obama's decision to finish his tour in Michigan speaks to the importance of a state he won by nearly 17 percentage points in 2008 -- but which suffered the effects of the national recession more than most other states.

Now, however, the president has a story to tell about the state's rebound -- thanks in no small part to the resurgence of the American automobile industry following his controversial decision to make available billions of dollars in government loans.

"The American auto industry was on the verge of collapse," he said, noting some politicians opposed the government intervention. "Today, the American auto industry is back, jobs are coming back, 160,000 jobs."

That was one of several indirect references to the Republican front-runner in the race to oppose him, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. Another was when Obama noted that he and his wife needed student loans because they didn't come from wealthy families.

Republican leaders disputed the president's take on Michigan's auto industry comeback.

"It's due to the innovation, the engineering, and the professionalism of the folks on the line," said Bobby Schostak, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party.

In his 30-minute university speech, Obama said Congress "has to do more. They need to stop the interest rates on student loans from doubling this July -- that would not be good for you."

As he did in the State of the Union speech, he said lawmakers also should double the number of work-study jobs in the next five years.

But "colleges and universitiess have to do their part to keep costs down as well," Obama said. "We are putting colleges on notice" that if they don't stop tuition from going up, their taxpayer-financed aid will go down. He urged a similar incentive program for states, patterned after his "Race to the Top" primary- and secondary-schools initiative.

[l JUNIORz l]

pay for live

[Hex`]

I hope that either Obama or Paul gets elected.

[Silk]

Lol how nice. College is too expensive >.<

[Smush]

Lies. He just tells the crowd whatever they want to hear.

He intervened in the auto industry when he obviously should not have. Capitalism would have let those auto companies die and let the remaining auto companies (Ford, Toyota, Honda, etc) reap the benefits because they don't need to rely on bailouts.

[Reevesy]

you go to free community college anyway

[Marc|Criti]

lal

hes just sayin

"PLEASE VOTE FOR ME"

[Octavarium]

tried that here... abolish UNI (ed sheeran btw) fees and now they're increased

[Prozss]

Lright good

[Juelz]

bs he dnt care

[plex]

FUCK OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE AINT MAKING ME LIVE ANY BETTER AND IM 17!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gfdgfd]

Obama's president, so? What's he represent?

Just because the nigga's half black don't mean he's Heaven-sent

You're clueless to evidence and all the minds he's messin' with

His charm and smile hasn't got my ass up out this debt for shit

Frontin' like he's truly Jesus

And all you fools believe it

The change he's making isn't good, that's just how you conceived it

It's like we all broker than ever, it's due to reasons

Dealing with self-beneficial plans and the movement he's with

[Evan]

HOPSIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FearMy Def]

w000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000t

[Next In Line]

Obama's president, so? What's he represent?

Just because the nigga's half black don't mean he's Heaven-sent

You're clueless to evidence and all the minds he's messin' with

His charm and smile hasn't got my ass up out this debt for shit

Frontin' like he's truly Jesus

And all you fools believe it

The change he's making isn't good, that's just how you conceived it

It's like we all broker than ever, it's due to reasons

Dealing with self-beneficial plans and the movement he's with

You don't live in the US you cunt.

[Paxman]

Obama's president, so? What's he represent?

Just because the nigga's half black don't mean he's Heaven-sent

You're cl

ueless to evidence and all the minds he's messin' with

His charm and smile hasn't got my ass up out this debt for shit

Frontin' like he's truly Jesus

And all you fools believe it

The change he's making isn't good, that's just how you conceived it

It's like we all broker than ever, it's due to reasons

Dealing with self-beneficial plans and the movement he's with

You don't live in the US you cunt.

do u even lift?

[gfdgfd]

Obama's president, so? What's he represent?

Just because the nigga's half black don't mean he's Heaven-sent

You're clueless to evidence and all the minds he's messin' with

His charm and smile hasn't got my ass up out this debt for shit

Frontin' like he's truly Jesus

And all you fools believe it

The change he's making isn't good, that's just how you conceived it

It's like we all broker than ever, it's due to reasons

Dealing with self-beneficial plans and the movement he's with

You don't live in the US you cunt.

are u rly that stupid ROFL!