It's fun to watch the fundraising race as we have been for the last few days, but sometimes it's easy to forget just how enormous the sums being raised actually are. $50,000 and $160,000 are a lot of money, and they seem pretty absurd to someone that doesn't have a lot of extra cash to spare right now.

And especially to college students. The next generation of America is trying to find it's way, but it's being held back by painful economic realities and ever-increasing costs.

Thankfully, Democrats in Congress want to do something about it. Today, the House voted on HR 2669, the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007. As explained by Speaker Pelosi's blog:

The legislation invests about $18 billion dollars over the next five years in reducing college costs, helping millions of students and families. It comes at no new cost to taxpayers, and is funded by cutting excess subsidies paid by the federal government to lenders in the student loan industry.

They even have a nifty graph to show it. Check it out.

The College Cost Reduction Act passed, 273 to 149. In total, 47 Republicans joined a united Democratic caucus in supporting the bill.

Needless to say, Congressman Tim Walberg voted No.

Any college students reading out there? Ask Congressman Walberg why he doesn't think you need any help.

Labels: 110th Congress, Education, Issues, Tim Walberg, Walberg Voting Record