Education initiatives play an important role in this November’s midterm elections. Of the education initiatives on the table in the next term, amendments to the Higher Education Act are always highly contested.

This year’s amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 increased the Pell Grant maximum to $6,000 a year, attempting to increase the accessibility of higher education to needy students. The Act is up for re-approval next year, with amendments that will be discussed by Congress.

However, polls seem to indicate that the Republicans will lose control of the US House of Representatives after this November’s midterm elections. Political analyst Charlie Cook has called this election season a Republican strategist’s nightmare.

“This is without question the worst political situation for the GOP since the Watergate disaster in 1974," Cook said in his report. “I think a 30-seat gain today for Democrats is more likely to occur than a 15-seat gain, the minimum that would tip the majority. The chances of that number going higher are also strong, unless something occurs that fundamentally changes the dynamic of this election."

Though Cook is less convinced about the Senate, some assessments are very favorable to Democrats.

With 55 seats, the Republicans currently have a 10 seat advantage in the US Senate. However, of the 15 Republican seats that are up this year, 2 are ranked as toss-ups by the New York Times, and 4 are ranked as leaning toward the Democratic candidate, with the remaining 9 seats safe or leaning republican. By contrast, of the 18 Democratic seats up this year, 1 is a toss-up, and the other 17 are safe or leaning Democratic.

If the Democrats succeed in converting all the red seats that are currently leaning Democratic and succeed in sweeping the 3 toss-up states, they will start January with majorities in the House and the Senate. This could change the face of the education debate.

Prominently, Ohio, a crucial state in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections and considered a battleground state between Republicans and Democrats, appears to be going blue. Republican incumbent Mike DeWine is being challenged by Democrat Sherrod Brown, US Rep. for Ohio.

In a New York Times/CBS News poll conducted October 11-15, Democrat Sherrod Brown leads Republican incumbent Mike DeWine 48% to 34%. In the same week, a Quinnipiac poll showed Brown leading 53 to 41, and an Ohio poll showed Brown leading by 52 to 45.

The candidates both say they want to increase accessibility to higher education.

“A good education should provide all children – regardless of their economic circumstances or family background – with the tools they need to make it as adults in our society – the tools necessary to rise above individual situations of poverty and instability – individual situations of hopelessness and despair," DeWine said on his campaign website.

Senator DeWine sponsored legislation to amend the Higher Education Act to give loan forgiveness for early childhood educators. He also supports an amendment with loan forgiveness for attorneys working for low-income families.

However, Brown’s campaign has accused DeWine’s voting record of being against education. According to Brown’s campaign website, DeWine voted to raise tuition costs and increase student debt, by voting to cut higher education funding and against funding for student loans.

“When it comes to paying for higher education, Senator DeWine has left students behind," Brown said in a press release. “We must provide students with every opportunity and incentive to succeed here in Ohio, so that they will stay and reinvest in the state."

Brown’s campaign website said DeWine opposed more than $11 billion for higher education and voted against funding for Pell Grants, student loans, work study, technology training, and college assistance programs.

DeWine’s campaign said that Brown is all talk and no action.

“Mike DeWine has taken action to help Ohio families afford college tuition," DeWine campaign spokesperson Brian Seitchik said. “He has consistently worked together with Democrats and Republicans to increase funding for Pell grants. Senator DeWine also voted to pass a $4,000 tuition tax deduction into law, and to make permanent a program that has helped nearly 300,000 Ohio families invest tax free for their children’s higher education. Unfortunately, Congressman Brown voted against both of these vital programs, showing once again that he’s all talk and no action."

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David Idol is a junior at New York University and writes for the student paper, the Washington Square News.

More resources:
www.mikedewine.com
www.sherrodbrown.com/