middle class families thousands of dollars. and give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling the number of work study jobs in the next five years. [ applause ] of course, it s not enough for us to increase student aid. we can t just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition, we ll run out of money. states need to do their part by making higher education a higher priority in their budgets. colleges and universities have to do their part by working to keep costs down. recently i spoke with a group of college presidents who have done just that. some schools redesigned courses to help students finish more quickly. some used better technology. the point is, it s possible. so let me put colleges and
not just him if you have frustration with washington. he s trying to set the tone for what we know will be a very competitive election year for president almost no matter who the republicans nominate, whether democrat, republican or independent. in this economy, political environment, any president would face a tough environment. this president s chance is to set the table, urge congress to do big things, jobs bill, payroll tax cut extension, other things ahead. all of us know, well aware the white house, republicans and democrats in the leadership on capitol hill will tell you, they don t expect big grand things to get done in this election year. payroll tax perhaps, a few other things. what the president is mostly doing tonight is framing his side of the debate for a very contentious election year. we re looking at gabrielle giffords, the congresswoman shot a year ago, just announced she will be retiring from the senate and hillary clinton, secretary of state giving her a
yes, you re in a state with high foreclosure, a state with very high unemployment. the president is trying to make the case things are getting better and his approach deserves a chance. he will make a case if things aren t getting better, perhaps because of dysfunction in washington. the president will make a case a do nothing congress is to blame, not just him if you have frustration with washington. he s trying to set the tone for what we know will be a very competitive election year for president almost no matter who the republicans nominate, whether democrat, republican or independent. in this economy, political environment, any president would face a tough environment. this president s chance is to set the table, urge congress to do big things, jobs bill, payroll tax cut extension, other things ahead. all of us know, well aware the white house, republicans and democrats in the leadership on capitol hill will tell you, they don t expect big grand things to get done in thi