10B -- The Michian Dlv Voter (Guide - Thulrsdav. Noember 2. 2000 51IVEub. , '-J-
9
The ichigan Daily Votei
)
vs.
Race remains too tight to call
as Election Day inches closer
pertinent issue in the minds of voters.
Brader said the most pressing issue
involves how to spend the federal bud-
get surplus.
The projected surplus is $237 billion
a l.org way from the huge deficit
eight years ago.
Since the primaries, Bush hAs run on
a platform of tax relief. Ile proposes
using $460 billion in a five-year period
for across-the-board tax cuts.
"'The federal government should
take no more than a third of a per-
son's paycheck," lush said at a rally
last week at Oakland Coimmunity
College.
Gore's also has proposed using $500
billion in targeted tax cuts and tax
incentives for working-class families.
for example the college opportunity
tax cut, which gives a 10 percent
tuition tax cut or credit on up to $2,800
in tuition.
While the surplus has been atop the
political agenda, University communi-
cation studies Prof. MikW Traugott said
abortion and the composition of the
Supreme Court are the most important
issues this year.
Due to the age and health conditions
of several Supreme Court justices. the
next president may have the opportuni-
ty to nominate as many as four new
justices. There is concern that a Bush
presidency would usher in conserva-
tive justices and a Gore presidency
would result in more liberal nominees.
Neither candidate has indicated who
they might select for the court.
Among voters, the Supreme Court
has been directly tied to the abortion
issue because of the court's ability to
overturn the Roe 4. Wide decision and
outlaw abortion. Bush is pro-life, while
Gore is pro-choice.
"Bush has avoided it because in
terms of popular opinion to date he's
on the wrong side. I can't tell you
why Al Gore has avoided it," Traugott
said.
Nader, who is pro-choice, asserts the
Supreme Court makeup would be the
same no matter which of the two major
candidates is elected, noting that
Democrats supported appointing
Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia,
two conservative justices currently on
the Supreme Court.
While Bush is focusing on tax cuts,
Gore is concentrating on education.
"I want to make education the num-
ber one priority," Gore said at a rally
Sunday at Macomb Community
College.
Both Gore and Bush have stressed
the need to raise teacher accountability
and educational standards. The candi-
dates also have proposed using stan-
dardized testing to measure accom-
plishments, increasing computer tech-
nology in the classroom, shutting down
decrepit schools and raising teacher
pay.
Where the candidates differ is on the
issue of school vouchers.
Bush supports giving parents a
choice of where their children can
attend school but has said it should be
up to the states to decide on the issue.
Gore is avidly opposed to vouchers,
which he said drains public school's
funds and resources.
Michigan is one state where voters
will make a decision on a school
voucher referendum Tuesday.
Students for Bush co-Chair Doug
Tietz said he thinks education is the
most important matter.
"Education is something that
affects all people," said Tietz, an LSA