During the last weeks of a campaign, candidates are not the only ones who are anxious for Election Day. Voters too have witnessed a marathon of commercials, appearances, debates and appeals during the fall and are ready to vote and get this campaign season over with. Yet there are still 10 days between now and Nov. 7, in which voters should try their hardest not to succumb to apathy or disinterest, however tempting it may be in this exhausting campaign blitz. In fact, now is really the perfect time to revisit candidates' stances on important issues to ensure that we know exactly what we are voting for when we take our place in the ballot box.
To minimize mental strain, take issues one at a time. Dominating this year's election cycle, the gubernatorial race seems to be an obvious place to start. And the issue to focus on seems equally apparent for college students: education.
University of Wisconsin professor John Coleman said Wednesday that Governor Doyle has made education and stem-cell research the centerpieces of his platform. Perhaps striving to put more distance between himself and his opponent, Doyle's campaign office announced his call for a significant expansion of the tuition tax deduction in a Wednesday press release.
In keeping with the rest of his campaign, Doyle's press release focused on the issue of affordability. If added to the budget as release promises, the tax cut would allow families to deduct $6,000 (roughly the cost of in-state tuition at UW) from their taxes. But the expansion is not just monetary. Doyle's proposal extends to families whose students attend other public universities, state schools and even private institutions. The deduction can stretch to include the price of books and fees as well. While the plan's appeal is obvious to any current or soon-to-be student, the feasibility of introducing, passing and then funding such a huge cut is seriously in doubt.
To compare, I visited Rep. Mark Green's website where press releases stress his "Putting Wisconsin First" campaign pledge. In his pledge, Green argues that Wisconsin students are being squeezed out of UW schools by out-of-state students whose higher tuition makes them more enticing to the admissions office than residents. The campaign cites a study that has given Wisconsin an "F" in affordability, which Green claims is ample reason to change leadership in 2006. He promises to put Wisconsin students at the front of the admissions line if elected. In short, Green's focus appears to be on improving the accessibility of education for Wisconsin students.
Given the nature of college today, there are no two more important issues than accessibility and affordability. And because this is their home state, Wisconsin students should be the main beneficiaries of such campaign promises.
Yet there are subtle differences in these approaches to education that merit some thought. Because governors are responsible for determining the context of many policy debates in the state, the way these candidates present their platforms should be scrutinized carefully.
Green's emphasis on the infiltration of the UW System by out-of-state students comes off as ominous and, to an out-of-stater like me, even a little offensive. I appreciate that Wisconsin taxpayers foot the bill for much of my education, but my summer paychecks help pay for Wisconsinites to cross the border and attend the University of Minnesota too. As for out-of-state students not eligible for reciprocity, they play an important financial role, but they bring a lot more to UW than just dollars and cents. In fact, just days ago, a release trumpeted the regional diversity at UW, proudly announcing that next year's freshman class will have students from every state except Vermont, South Carolina and Arkansas. With a more diverse range of geographic backgrounds, UW will remain a more vibrant place to attend school — something that should be celebrated, not demonized.
So while tuition may have increased substantially under Doyle's watch, which justifies skepticism about his pledge to increase affordability of education, his solution suggests he is more prepared to lead this state's education system for the next four years. The deduction expansion is by no means a guaranteed way to get more Wisconsin kids into the system, but its can-do tone is more in line with the kind of leadership and vision I hope to see in the state's highest government position.
So while voters wait eagerly for Election Day, they should be patient, not idle. There is still ample time to reconsider the candidates' positions on the most important issues facing Wisconsin today. And while voters revisit these topics, they should pay special attention to the tone with which each candidate shapes his version of the issues. After all, the tone sets direction, and the direction of Wisconsin's future in education and otherwise is nothing to gamble with.
Sarah Howard ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in journalism and political science.
