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National Service – Volume 2 – B. Current Press (Newspaper & Magazine Articles) [binder]
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National Service – Volume 2 – B. Current Press (Newspaper & Magazine Articles) [binder]
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Records of the Office of National Service (Clinton Administration)
Richard C. (Rick) Allen's Files
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This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
National Service
Series/Staff Member:
Rick Allen
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1292
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National Service - Volume 2 - B. Current Press (Newspaper & Magazine Articles) [binder]
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Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a tabbed divider. Given our
digitization capabilities, we are sometimes unable to adequately
scan such dividers. The title from the original document is
indicated below.
CURRENT PRESS
Divider Title:
Clinton's Program for National Service
Would Start Small, Expand Gradually
By JEFFREY H. BIRNBAUM
And CATHY TROST
Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
PISCATAWAY, N.J. President Clin-
Some of the bugs haven't yet been
ton unveiled his multibillion-dollar na-
worked out of the plan. For example, the
tional service program, saying it "will
spending is premised on a certain number
change America forever and for the bet-
of young people seeking aid; Mr. Clinton
ter."
said yesterday for the first time that if too
Despite the grand words, the program
many people sign up, a limit would have to
he envisions would be phased in gradually.
be imposed. Costs of such a national
A mere 1,000 young people would be given
program could soar. Estimates based on
jobs this summer, and the program would
existing smaller programs are about $20,-
serve only 25,000 students in the year
000 a year per participant, though the
beginning Oct. 1, its first full year of
administration will seek offsetting savings
operation. Mr. Clinton said he hoped the
by revamping the student loan program.
program would balloon to 100,000 by 1997.
Even with 100,000 participants, "we will
Though smaller than the president had
still have covered only about 2% of students
led audiences to expect during last year's
who are receiving some form of federal
campaign, the program was introduced
financial assistance," said D. Bruce John-
with a Clintonesque flair. Hitting the road
stone, chancellor of the State University of
to promote the plan, the president filled his
New York, a 64-campus system with 400,000
day with personal appeals and close-to-the-
students.
A20 THE WALL STREET JOURNAL TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1993
people images conveyed on television. At
Mr. Johnstone called Mr. Clinton's pro-
an adult education center, he embraced a
posal "a good idea," but he said: "I fear
woman who started crying as she spoke to
it's being oversold, particularly when the
him. Traveling to his speech, he rode on a
president of the United States thinks he's
bus rather than in his limousine.
solved the financial-access problem in
If adopted by Congress, the program
higher education." The New York chancel-
would allow students to work off college
lor doesn't believe the program would do
loans by serving local communities as
much to make college more accessible or
teachers, police officers or social workers
affordable.
for one or two years after graduation.
"I think clearly people are going to
Students could do their service before,
have a lot of questions, but it should be
during or after college. They would get an
accepted as a principle," said Roger Hull,
"educational benefit" to pay for college or
president of Union College in Schenectady,
job training, or they would be allowed to
N.Y., which has a small program offering
pay off their student loans by assigning to
loan forgiveness to graduates in public
the government a small percentage of their
service jobs. "We all have an obligation to
income. In addition, they would get a small
give something back, and this is a good
stipend and health and child care bene-
way of encouraging that."
fits.
Mr. Clinton seemed certain that young
To pay for the program, the president
people will respond. He called this the
has requested $7.4 billion over the next
beginning of the "season of service" and
four years. Spending would begin at $400
predicted that many young people will
million in fiscal 1994, which begins Oct. 1,
"answer the call to service."
and it would rise to $3.4 billion in fiscal
Congressional support for the proposed
1997. Though passage of the program in
program appears strong. Standing with
some form is considered highly likely, it's
the president as he announced his program
unclear whether Congress will approve the
were the chairmen of the House and Senate
level of spending Mr. Clinton has re-
committees that must consider the legisla-
quested.
tion, as well as three Democratic sena-
Mr. Clinton chose to highlight national
tors - Harris Wofford of Pennsylvania,
service yesterday because it was the 32nd
Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Jay
anniversary of President Kennedy's intro-
Rockefeller of West Virginia - who served
duction of the Peace Corps, on which the
with the Peace Corps or its domestic
Clinton proposal was modeled. The presi-
counterpart, Vista.
dent gave his major address on the plan at
Rutgers University, the site of the first
Mr. Clinton intends this spring to intro-
training classes for Peace Corps volun-
duce legislation to establish the program.
teers. Mr. Clinton invited young people to
But yesterday "he was giving you a
write to him to volunteer for the fledgling
commercial out there," said Rep. William
program, one of his top priorities.
Ford (D., Mich.).
Besides speaking here and at an adult
Such marketing is necessary, Mr. Ford
education center nearby, Mr. Clinton pro-
said. "Nothing will happen unless the
moted the program on MTV, the music
people are turned on and decide to partici-
video network seen mostly by young peo-
pate."
Ed,
ple. Vice President Albert Gore and his
wife, Tipper, as well as three cabinet
who
secretaries also staged national-service
else?
events around the country.
The 'National Service' Boondoggle
By DOUG BANDOW
Pacifist William James hated war but
performing the most valuable work. Any
ciently as the private sector. An unwieldy
liked its fruit. In 1910, he penned words
Job that could possibly be handled by a
bureaucracy enforcing the controls that
mal have become well-nigh immortal,
union member would have to be excluded
inevitably follow federal money is not
mailing for a "moral equivalent of war" in
to avoid unremitting labor opposition.
likely to promote Inexpensive and Innova-
which "the martial virtues" would he In-
More Important. what work would par-
tive solutions to human needs.
culcated in young men in peacetime. "Our
tlcipants do? Today the Peace Corps and
Even worse, federal Involvement is
gilded youths would be drafted off," he
Vista, along with the more than 60 state
likely to politicize private humanitarian
wrote, "to get the childishness knocked
and local programs, Involve only some
activities. Congressmen oppose efforts to
out of them, and to come back Into society
18,000 people. How would we employ
close local government offices; Interest
with healthier sympathies and soberer
150,000, 250,000, 500,000 or more people?
groups twist social programs to their ben-
Ideas."
They would meet "unmet social
efit; labor unions block proposals to con-
James's vision became the fount of a
needs," national-service advocates re-
tract out work. Imagine the likely infight-
host of contradictory proposals Involving
spond. But as long as human wants are
ing over a program Involving the services
military conscription, universal civilian
unlimited, the real number of "unmet"
of hundreds of thousands of young peo-
jue
service and voluntary programs. The lat-
social (as well as business) "needs" is in-
ple. What, for Instance, will Mr. Clinton
2 for 4
est is President Clinton's plan, unvelled at
finite. It is meaningless to talk about mil-
say when the Democratic Party's favorite
Rutgers yesterday. to provide as many as
lions of "unmet" needs; and since labor is
political, sexual and social lobbies, like
3 for 4
150,000 students with two years of college
not a free resource, it would be even more
Act Up and Planned Parenthood, come
tuition for every year of service in a gov-
foolish to try to satisfy all of them.
calling to demand "their" quotas of ser-
ernment-approved Job.
The key to the national service debate
vice workers?
Mr. Clinton's program is nothing new.
is opportunity costs. Paying young people
Finally, money has to be an Issue
In 1988, the Democratic Leadership Coun-
to shelve library books requires forgoing
when the president is calling for massive
cil, to which he belonged. proposed a mas-
both whatever else could be done with the
tax hikes. The administration is initially
sive "Citlzens Corps" of young people.
money they are paid and whatever else
proposing to spend $9.5 billion over five
The program was premised on alleged
the participants would do. Indeed, the
years, but the costs could escalate
American decadence, self-absorptlon and
Clinton program would delay the entry of
quickly. Providing participants with two
selfishness. inflamed during the "decade
hundreds of thousands of people Into
years of school for every year of work
of greed," as the 1980s were duhbed.
higher educational studies and the work
means that they will earn more than
Candidate Clinton was too Interested
force. There is no reason to assume that a
$60,000-say, $40,000 in tuition breaks
in being elected president to criticize po-
dollar going to national service will yield
and $20,000-plus in salary and health
tential voters in these terms, however.
more benefits than an additional dollar
benefits for "serving" two years. That's
He used more positive rhetoric to propose
spent on medical research, technological
over $9 billion for 150,000 participants,
allowing 250,000 or more people to work
Innovation or any number of other pur-
not counting the costs of the federal bu-
off their student loans through govern-
poses, private and public.
reaucracy necessary to manage the pro-
ment service. Deficit concerns have
Another problem Involves the mill-
gram.
caused the administration to propose
tary. The end of the Cold War has
Alas, Mr. Clinton's scheme would
starting with a pilot program, to be ex-
slowed recruiting. Providing educational
likely end up no bargain. It would expand
panded over time. Still, Mr. Clinton said
benefits, long an important military ve-
federal power, politicize the Independent
in his radio address last Saturday that he
hicle for attracting college-capable
sector, Increase an already nightmarish
ultimately wants to reach "hundreds of
youth, for civilian work may hinder re-
deficit and siphon tens of thousands of
thousands of students."
cruiting for what remains the most fun-
young people out of productive private la-
Service seems so obviously a good
damental form of national service-de-
bor and into make-work projects.
thing that many people automatically em-
fending the country.
What we need Instead is a renewed
brace politicians who use the phrase "na-
Still. what of the serious problems con-
commitment to individual service-some
tional service." The basic question, how-
fronting us? In many Instances the gov-
part-time. some full-time; some through
ever, is service to whom? Proposals for
ernment bars effective private responses.
national service assume that citizens are
the family, some through churches and
Minimum wage laws forbid the hiring of
responsible not to each other but to the
some through civic groups, America's
dedicated but unskilled people and Inhibit
state. Even voluntary programs like Mr.
strength is its combination of humanitar-
rehabilitation programs, like that run by
Clinton's imply a unity of society and
lan Impulses, private association and di-
the Salvation Army; restrictions on para-
versity. Which is why we should keep the
state, with work for the latter equated to
transit operations limit private trans-
"national" out of service.
service to the former.
portation for the disabled.
Opportunities for genuine service
In any case, only narrowly targeted re-
abound. Roughly 80 million people now
sponses-attracting a few thousand extra
Mr. Bandow is a fellow at the Cato Insti-
caregivers for the terminally ill. for In-
lute. He is the author of "Human Resources
participate in some volunteer activities.
Much more could be done, of course. But
stance-are likely to work. The pervasive
and Defense Manpower," published by Na-
the remedy is not yet another federal pro-
fraud and waste endemic to "public ser-
tional Defense University.
gram.
vice" programs like CETA hardly augur
Another bias held by national-service
well for yet another large-scale federal ef-
advocates is that "public" service is In-
fort at social engineering.
herently better than private service. What
Further, Imagine the bureaucracy nec-
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
makes shelving books in a library more
essary to decide what jobs constitute "ser-
laudable or valuable than stocking shelves
vice." Who would sort through union ob-
In a bookstore? Private-sector workers-
jections to "unfair competition," match
TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1993.
health-care professionals, medical and
hundreds of thousands of participants to
scientific researchers, business entrepre-
Individual posts and monitor the quality of
neurs and Inventors, artists-provide
people's work? Consider the disastrous
enormous public benefits.
mess made of the student loan program
Moreover, the Implementation prob-
by the Education Department; not sur-
lems are dizzying. Mr. Clinton said that
prisingly, the Congressional Research
he would not allow any job displacement,
Service has warned that the government
A18
which would prevent participants from
cannot administer the program as effi-
A8 TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1993
THE WASHINGTON POST
Get Involved,
President
Tells Youths
Clinton Outlines Pilot
For National Service
By Ann Devroy
Washington Post Staff Writer
PISCATAWAY, N.J., March
1-President Clinton today chal-
lenged the nation's young people
to sign up "to help make America
new again" through a proposed na-
tional service program he de-
scribed as the 1990s equivalent of
the Peace Corps.
Clinton called his proposal to
have students exchange national
service for higher education a log-
ical descendant of programs such as
the Civilian Conservation Corps,
REUTER
the GI Bill, the VISTA volunteer
Clinton, talking to student before a Rutgers University appearance, said first year of program would cost $400 million.
program and the Peace Corps,
which was authorized 32 years ago
tion's efforts. The president also
But Eli Segal, the presidential
dents would borrow money directly
today.
challenged young people to partic-
aide constructing the national ser-
from the government. The proposal
Except for announcing a small
ipate during an interview on MTV
vice program, said the 100,000
projects savings in administrative
summer demonstration project for
last night, and Vice President Gore
number came from determining
costs, in lower default rates and
1,000 young people, Clinton re-
plus three Cabinet officers were
how many students could be served
other revisions.
leased few new details of his pro-
visiting service programs in Vir-
by $3.4 billion, the 1997 figure. He
In outlining his program here,
gram, which has a modest first-year
ginia, North Carolina, Massachu-
said there was no national experi-
Clinton also added "pre-college"
cost of $400 million for 25,000 par-
setts and in Washington, D.C.
ence to predict how many young
students to those eligible for the na-
ticipants, growing to $3.4 billion for
Clinton, in an exchange with re-
people would want to use the pro-
tional service program; those in the
100,000 participants in 1997.
porters, said the relatively modest
gram.
program would be paid less than the
Participants would trade a year of
size of the program-serving
Clinton married his service' pro-
prevailing wage for a year of com-
community service for two years of
100,000 young people four years
posal here with his pledge to over-
munity service in exchange for gov-
college or training costs, although
after its start compared to the 5
haul the student loan program and
ernment funding for two years of
some limits may be put on those
million students who have college
make loans-not the service pro-
collège or training school. Clinton
costs. Those details will not be
loans-was not a scaling back of his
gram-available to any student who
said his team envisions about
worked out until the proposal is
campaign pledge to allow any stu-
wants one, along with a revised way
35,000 pre-college young people
submitted to Congress in spring, of-
dent who wanted to participate the
of paying the loans back.
would participate.
ficials said.
chance to do so.
Segal said repayment would be
Clinton unveiled a small "summer
Instead of outlining the program
Instead, he said the administra-
set as a percentage of income, and
of service" program as a demon-
in. detail, Clinton rallied an enthu-
tion had based the size of the pro-
that make it easier for graduates to
stration of the kind of program he
siastic audience of young people be-
gram on an estimate of the number
accept lower-paying, community-
envisions. Paid for with $15 million
hind the concept of community ser-
of people who would want to par-
service jobs without worrying about
from his economic stimulus pack-
vice as an essential part of the
ticipate. "We think we'll bé able to
how to make their college loan pay-
age, the summer program would
American character. He called on a
accommodate" those who want to
ments. Segal said the administra-
use existing community service or-
new generation of Americans to be
take part, he said.
tion is also considering having the
ganizations to employ 1,000 stu-
"agents of renewal" by helping re-
He said that if "a million students
loan payments automatically de-
dents in a variety of service pro-
build the structures and programs
want to" use the program in a year,
ducted from paychecks by the IRS,
jects, particularly ones oriented to-
that provide social services and said
"we can't afford that," and insisted
which could help reduce default.
ward helping children.
such efforts will "help make Amer-
that the exchange of community
The White House did not offer
Young people who participate
ica young again."
service for college or training would
details of the student loan restruc-
would be paid the minimum wage
Clinton's address here, and visits
not become another entitlement
turing beyond the ones in its eco-
for the eight-week job, plus a
to community service programs,
program, a program that every stu-
nomic package announced two
$1,000 stipend toward college tu-
were only part of the administra-
dent has a legal right to obtain.
weeks ago. In that proposal, stu-
ition or training programs.
Army Times/March 1, 1993
Talk of cutbacks cuts traffic
at Army recruiting stations
By Chris Murray
fects our brand recognition."
Times staff writer
The Army is seeking to come up with alternatives
WASHINGTON - Ongoing talk of troop reduc-
tions and cutbacks in advertising revenues have len
to conventional media advertising, Leahy said.
first-quarter recruiting numbers slightly lower than
"We're interacting with local businesses, govern-
the previous year, according to Army officials.
ment and schools to get the word out that we're still
According to statistics released by U.S. Army Re-
hiring," he said.
cruiting Command, Fort Knox, Ky., 43,461 recruits
After fiscal year 1992's record-setting high of
were brought onto active duty between Oct. 1 and
recruting 100 percent high school graduates, quality
December 31, 1992. The recruitment goal for the
indicators for the first quarter also have fallen. Of
1993 budget year is 83,400. During the same period
the 43,461 non-prior-service recruits brought in dur-
a year earlier, the Army brought in 48,939 new
ing the first quarter of this fiscal year, which began
recruits.
on Oct. 1, 1992, 96.4 percent were high school gradu-
Proposed cuts in the military as well as the draw-
ates. From that group, 71.1 percent scored in the top
down have given the public the impression that the
half of the Armed Forces Qualification Test. At the
Army is not taking in new recruits, said command
same time in the previous year, 76 percent of new
spokesman Maj. Thomas Leahy.
recruits scored in the top percentile.
"There's a public perception that we are not hir-
The Army also took in more recruits who scored in
ing right now," he said. "We still need new privates
the lowest percentile of the Armed Forces Aptitude
to replace those who are leaving the Army and to
Test. Some 3.5 percent of the new soldiers scored in
maintain troop strength."
the lowest acceptable test section, Category IV. Dur.
ing the first quarter of fiscal 1992, none scored in
Leahy said cutbacks in television advertising have
the lowest section.
hurt Army recruiting, especially during this year's
professional and college football post-season.
"We need 80 many new soldiers to fill spaces in
class." Leahy said. "So in order to make volume,
"You didn't see many Army commercials during
we've had to slightly come down in quality."
[National Football League] playoffs or the Super
The number of new reservists also fell from fiscal
Bowl," he said. "Since 1990, we have lost our visibili-
1992's first-quarter mark. This year, the Army took
ty among the 18- to 24-year-old male market. Since
in 10,459 new part-time soldiers, compared to
we're not advertising like we used to, it directly af-
13.562 in fiscal 1992.
I
Young men continue to lose
interest in joining military
By Grant Willis
since 1989. However, the Pentagon's top uniformed
Times Ftn/T writer
personnel official said he sees no need to press Con-
WASHINGTON - For the third straight year,
gress for more advertising dollars solely because of
young men are continuing to lose interest in joining
the new attitude survey.
the military.
"We're not all that concerned, but we're going to
While the Defense Department is officially untrou-
watch it carefully," said Air Force Lt. Gen. R. Minter
bled by the trend and current recruiting goals con-
Alexander, deputy assistant secretary of defense for
tinue to be met, service officials said the all-volun
military manpower and personnel policy.
teer force will have trouble finding the top-quality
In addition, Alexander said, young people's inter-
people it needs in a few years unless the military
est levels in the military already could be increasing
finds some way to rekindle interest among high
again, as they see "the nightly news coverage of all
school graduates.
the [military's] good deeds in Somalia."
The military's annual Youth Attitude Tracking
But senior service officials were far less sanguine.
Study for 1992 shows only 27 percent of 16- to 21-
Recent publicity about the drawdown has been giv-
year-old men would "definitely" or "probably" enlist
ing young people a false impression that the military
in one of the services in the next few years, down
has stopped hiring, they said. And with so few re-
two percentage points from the year before. The fig-
cruiting advertisements on the air waves, the offi-
ure is based on a survey of 10,000 young people in
cials said, that false impression persists.
fall 1992.
Recruiting targets have been lowered in the past
A Defense Department summary of the study, re-
several years, but the services want to continue to
leased Feb. 16, shows young men's willingness to en-
recruit 200,000 people during the drawdown and ex-
list has been in a three-year decline. A total of 29
pect to to increase accessions again once the military
percent of the men surveyed in 1991 were planning
reaches steady level of 1.4 million troops in 1997.
to enlist, compared to 32 percent in 1990.
"Recruiters are struggling to meet our objective of
Young black men have traditionally shown more
[signing] 95 percent high school graduates.
I
interest in a military career than white men, and
can't allow it to go any lower," said Lt. Gen. Thomas
that remains the case. But according to the 1992 sur-
Carney, the Army's deputy chief of staff for person-
vey, the propensity to enlist among black men be-
nel. But with young people's interest levels declining,
tween 16 and 22 has decreased dramatically, from 53
he said, "you can begin to see the storm clouds on
percent in 1989 to 44 percent in 1990, 42 percent in
the horizon."
1991 and 37 percent in the latest survey.
Women's propensity to enlist has remained virtu.
Statistics show 80 percent of enlisted members
ally unchanged since 1990 at 11 percent in the 16- to
with high school diplomas complete their first term
22-year-old group.
of service, compared to a 50-percent washout rate
among those without diplomas. Each failure to com-
In general, favorable attitudes toward the military
plete 8 first term costs taxpayers $20,000 in wasted
among high school-age youths make it easier for mil-
training and pay, according to the General Account.
itary recruiters to sign them to enlistment contracts.
ing Office.
The number of signed contracts governs the flow of
new recruits into the military about six months
Rear Adm. Jon Barr, commander of the Navy Re-
later.
cruiting Command, said his troops are having to
The attitude changes coincide with a 55-percent
work 10 percent harder to get each new contract in
cut in the military's recruiting advertising budget
today's market.
army Times 3/1/193
THE NEW YORK TIMES OP-ED SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1993
+
E
15
National Service - Now
By Bill Clinton
First, it will make it easier for
While the Federal Government will
young people to hold low-paying pub-
provide the seed money for national
WASHINGTON
lic service jobs and still pay off their
service, we are determined that the
student loans.
participants the individuals who
A is dead.
Of everything I've
Under our program, Americans
serve and the groups that sponsor
learned in my first
will be able to borrow the money they
their service - will guide the process.
few weeks in the
need for college and pay it back as a
Spending tens of millions of tax dol-
White House, that's
small percentage of their income
lars to build a massive bureaucracy
the thing that's made
over time. By giving graduates the
would be sell defeating; " would
me the happlest. Whether or not the
chance to repay loans on an afford-
squash the spirit of innovation that
people I've met outside the capital
able, reasonable schedule, this "in-
national service demands.
support the changes I have proposed,
come-contingent" program will allow
By design, our national service pro-
they're all saying they're ready to
our people to do the work that our
gram will not happen overnight. In
rebuild our country.
communities really need.
stead, it will grow year by year, with
But they know, as I do, that no
Second, our legislation will create
funding reaching $3 billion in 1997
economic plan can do it alone. A plan
new opportunities for Americans to
And as I've said many times, I be
can make vaccines available to chil-
serve our country for a year or two -
lieve it will be the best money we ever
dren, but alone it will not administer
cation or training in return.
spend.
the shots to all of them. It can put
We'll offer people of different ages
If Congress gives us the chance,
security guards in the schools, but
and educational levels different ways
this summer we'll create an eight
alone it will not take gangs off the
to serve. And to focus our energies and
week leadership training program
streets. And it.can provide more aid
get the most for our money, we'll direct
We'll recruit more than 1,000 young
for college, but alone it will not make
special attention to a few areas:
people for special projects to meet
the costs of college less daunting for
We'll ask thousands of young peo-
the needs of children at risk and to
the middle class
ple to serve in our schools - some as
train the first class of full-year par-
That's why I believe we need na-
teachers, others as youth mentors,
ticipants.
tional service - now.
reading specialists and math tutors.
In the first full year of our initiative,
If Congress acts quickly enough, just
They'll join the effort to insure that
we'll launch our flexible loan program
months from now more than 1,000
our schools offer the best education in
and aim to put tens of thousands of
young people will start serving our
the world.
people to work. By 1997. more than
country in a special summer effort. In
100,000 citizens could be serving our
four years, the successors to these
country, getting education and train-
pioneers will multiply a hundredfold.
ing benefits in return. And hundreds
Imagine: an army of 100,000 young
Federal seed
of thousands more people could be
people restoring urban and rural com-
doing invaluable work because col-
munities and giving their labor in re-
money, but local
lege loans no longer block the way.
turn for education and training.
But the best planning and the most
National service is an idea as old as
ambitious dèsign won't make this vi-
America. Time and again, our people
management.
sion of national service a reality. That
have found new ways to honor citizen-
responsibility ultimately rests with
ship and match the needs of changing
the American people.
times.
I am convinced that after 12 years
Lincoln's Homestead Act rewarded
We'll send people into medical
of drifting apart instead of working
those who had the courage to settle the
clinics to help immunize the nation's
together we are ready to meet the
frontier with the land to raise a family.
2-year-olds. Some participants will be
challenge. From a 14-year-old boy in
Franklin D. Roosevelt's Social Securi-
qualified to give the shots, but thou-
North Dakota who sent us $1,000 to
ty Act insured that Americans who
sands of others can provide essential
help pay off the deficit, to a 92-year-
work a lifetime can grow old with
support, contacting parents and
old widower in Kansas who followed
dignity. Harry S. Truman's G.I. Bill
following up to make sure children
his example, people are demonstrat-
rewarded the service of my father's
get the shots they need.
ing that they want to give something
generation, transforming youthful vet-
We'll help police forces across the
back to their nation.
erans into an army of educated civil-
country through a new Police Corps
National service will exercise our
lans that led our nation Into a new era.
trained to walk beats. We'll also or.
talents and rebuild our communities.
For my generation, the reality of
ganize others in our communities to
It will harness the energy of our
national service was born 32 years
keep kids out of gangs and off drugs.
youth and attack the problems of our
ago tomorrow, when President John
We'll put still others to work con-
time. 11 will bring together men and
F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps.
trolling pollution and recycling waste,
women of every age and race and lift
At its peak, the Peace Corps enrolled
to help insure that we pass on to our
up our nation's spirit. And for all of
only 16,000 volunteers yet it changed
children a nation that is clean and
us, it will rekindle the excitement of
the way a generation of Americans
safe for years to come.
being Americans.
0
look at themselves and the world.
Our national service program will
Today, the spirit of our people once
offer more than benefits to individ-
again can meet head-on the troubles
uals. We'll help pay operating costs
of our times.
for community groups with proved
The task is as complex as our chal-
track records, providing the support
lenge is great. We must combine the
they'll need to grow. And we'll let
intensity of the post-World War =
entrepreneurs compete for venture
years with the Idealism of the early
capital to develop new service pro-
1960's and help young people afford
grams.
a college education or job training.
In 1993, we'll restore the spirit of
service by asking our people to serve
here at home. We won't refight the
wars we won, but we'll tackle the
growing domestic dangers that
threaten our future.
Our new initiative will embody the
same principles as the old G.I. Bill. It
will challenge our people to serve our
country and do the work that should
- and must - be done. It will give
those who serve the honor and re-
wards they deserve. It will invest in
the future of the quiet heroes who
invest in the future of others.
The national service legislation
that I will send to Congress shortly
will give our people the chance to
serve in two basic ways:
©
Student Loan Proposal
May Increase U.S. Debt,
Report Warns Congress
Nednesday, Feb 24, 1993
By Mary Jordan
Washington Post Staff Writer
President Clinton's proposal to
change the student loan program
that is wasting billions of taxpayer
dollars a year may end up sinking
the nation further into debt, a study
released to Congress yesterday
warned.
The report turns up the flame
under the debate in Congress over
how to fix the current loan system,
which is riddled with fraud and
abuse and has been called the most
mismanaged program in the federal
government. It also comes amid a
major lobbying campaign by pow-
erful private lenders to keep their
role in the profitable loan program.
The Clinton administration said
last week that a new system could
soon save the federal government
more than $1 billion a year. The
president has said all college stu-
dents should be able to borrow di-
SEN. PAUL SIMON
rectly from the government, saving
"industry is taking excess profits"
The Washington
the costs charged by private banks
and other middlemen involved in
the current complex system.
But the Congressional Research
Service (CRS) report, which con-
tradicts previous federal studies,
said the government may not be
able to administer the program as
efficiently as the private sector and
it could be better to improve the
existing system. Currently, stu-
dents take out government-guar-
anteed loans from private banks.
Clinton's proposal would set up the
Education Department as the bank-
er.
Virtually every inspector general
report in recent memory has point-
ed to the current system's poor
management, inefficiency and der-
eliction in loan collection. Taxpay-
ers are paying $3 billion a year for
students who skip out on their stu-
dent loans.
THOMAS A. SCULLY
U.S. as a banker is a "dumb idea"
Wash Post
2/24/93 (cont)
Sen. Paul Simon (D-III.), a key
supporter of direct loans, empha-
sized that the CRS report "confirms
that the student loan industry is
Scully, now working as an attorney
taking excess profits."
for the Washington law and lobby-
The report suggests that instead
ing firm of Patton, Boggs & Blow.
of direct lending, the government
In the long run, direct lending may
could slash the "high profits" of the
make money for the government,
private lenders.
but for the next "18 to 20 years"
There has been rising outrage on
they will be adding to between "$10
Capitol Hill over the profit margins
and $15 billion a year" to the fed-
of lenders such as the Student Loan
eral deficit by issuing new loans.
He also said while "ratcheting
down the margin of profit" makes
The Clinton
sense, setting up a federal banking
system when there is already a pri-
administration has
vate one is "like building two sets of
railroad tracks next to each other."
proposed making
The CRS report, which was cir-
culating among congressional of
the government a
fices yesterday, makes it clear that
the program could be Improved by
direct lender of
shifting some financial risk to the
private lenders.
school funds.
Clinton estimated in his economic
package released last week that as
Marketing Association, known as
early as 1997 the phasing-in of di-
Sallie Mae. This private corporation
rect lending would save the govern-
chartered by Congress last year
ment $1.3 billion a year. The pres-
earned nearly $400 million and a
ident also is proposing to allow stu-
recent General Accounting Office
dents to repay loans at a rate linked
(GAO) study disclosed that its pres-
to their wages. This also is seen by
ident's annual compensation pack-
some as saving money on defaults
age was $2.1 million.
because more graduates and other
Simon acknowledged that "spe-
former students could meet their
cial interests" may try to use part of
payments.
the new report to argue for the sta-
Two recent GAO studies have
tuis quo.
agreed with Clinton's contention.
On Tuesday, the Consumer Bank
One in 1991 estimated the savings
Association plans a "Lobby Day" on
from direct lending at over $1 bil-
Capitol Hill to fight against direct
lion a year; last year, another pre-
lending. Clinton's plan is seen as
dicted $4.5 billion could be saved
threatening the financial stability of
over five years.
some of the current system's play-
But as the prospect nears that
ers. Soon after the Clinton proposal
the Education Department, with a
was made, the highly successful
long history of poor management,
Sallie Mae's stock prices plunged as
will soon be squarely in charge of
some panicked investors dumped it.
this financially risky program, con-
Thomas A. Scully, an associate
cern is rising over whether govern-
director of the Office of Manage-
ment can do better than the private
ment and Budget in the Bush ad-
sector.
ministration, agreed that the cur-
After much debate about the ef-
rent loan system is a mess. But at-
ficiency of government manage-
tempting to straighten it out by
ment, Congress last year approved
making the government a banker,
a pilot direct-lending plan that
he said, "is a dumb idea."
would involve between 250 and 400
"It flat out won't work," said
college campuses.
2 Million
Summer Jobs, Classes
Youths to Get
Planned for 2 Million
Summer Aid
Disadvantaged Youths
Washington Post, Thursday, 25, 1993
U.S. Plans Expansion
RILEY, From A1
steep increases afterwards-be
Of Jobs and Classes
spread out among America's public
classrooms would be used or who
schools. Localities would decide
would teach?
which innovative programs to fund.
By Mary Jordan
According to Labor Department
The Bush strategy was to focus
Washington Post Staff Writer
officials, the new jobs are slated for
federal money on the construction
To get idle youths off the street
inner cities and poor rural areas,
of a small number of "break-the-
this summer, the Clinton adminis-
and would involve some existing
mold" schools that would be a model
tration plans to give as many as 2
programs such as mayors' summer
of change for others.
million American youths a new
job programs and those of private
Riley also said that the education
summer job or a seat in summer
business councils.
package dubbed, "Goals 2000: Ed-
school beginning as early as June.
The Clinton plan adds $1 billion
ucate America Act," would continue
Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich
in new funding to the nearly $1 bil-
to push for establishment of a base-
and Education Secretary Richard
lion already in the budget. Some of
line of knowledge that all American
W. Riley, offering the most detailed
that existing money is the unspent
students must learn before gradu-
explanation yet of the major Clinton
money from last year and the rest
ation.
youth initiative, told senators on
Capitol Hill yesterday that the jobs
was approved for summer jobs un-
Currently, there are no such
plan would target the nation's "100
der then-President George Bush.
standards. Likewise, as the Labor
In addition to working with Labor
Department develops occupational
poorest areas."
to figure out how the "education
skill standards for the non-college-
The jobs are to range from paint-
component" of the jobs program
bound, Riley said they are "to have
ing city halls to supervising recre-
ation centers and will employ 1.3
would be administered, the Educa-
a powerful effect" on what is taught
million youths-double the number
tion Department also is seeking an
in high school.
hired last year. For the first time,
immediate infusion of $500 million
Riley told reporters afterwards
the teenagers hired also would be
that he plans to "avoid the political
to keep open the so-called Chapter
drilled during the work day in math,
side issues," such as private school
1 schools this summer.
reading and writing, Labor officials
"choice," that were the focus of de-
These schools have concentra-
said.
bate during the Bush administra-
In addition, hundreds of thou-
tions of low-income, disadvantaged
tion.
sands more disadvantaged children
students and are eligible for special
Rep. William F. Goodling (Pa.),
would be kept in school this sum-
federal funding to teach basic skills,
the ranking Republican on the Ed-
mer under a separate plan to keep
particularly math and reading.
ucation and Labor Committee, said
open year-round schools with large
Riley also used the two-hour ses-
he sees little difference between
numbers of poor children.
sion before the Senate Labor and
what Riley is advocating and what
"This is great news," said Richard
Human Resources Committee to
Bush had been calling for.
Miller, executive director of the
offer the first glimpse of the Clinton
"The difference now is that the
American Association of School Ad-
administration's education package.
majority will not be able to say 'no'
ministrators. "It gives them an op-
In a shift from Bush administra-
simply because it is a Republican
portunity to learn and earn at the
tion policy, Riley said he would
president's idea," said Goodling,
same time."
presenting to Congress a request
There are 18 million youths aged
predicting that the Clinton revisions
15 to 19, according to the 1990
that more federal dollars-perhaps
will find little opposition in Con-
census. The job and school initia-
$400 million in the first year and
gress.
tives-costing an additional $1.5
billion-are expected to help those
not already employed or at camp or
school.
"After the events of last year in
Los Angeles," Clinton told Congress
last week, "and the countless sto-
ries of despair in our cities and in
our poor rural communities," the
nation needs to create summer jobs
for unemployed youths.
In the past, federal summer jobs
programs have been fraught with
management problems. Last year,
$267 million appropriated for the
program was never spent. The lo-
gistics of teaching a diverse body of
working youths will only add to the
complexity of the historically trou-
bled program. For instance what
A Trial Run for National Service
Baltimore Program Puts Youths to Work Rebuilding Neighborhoods
By Gary Lee
Washington Post Staff Writer
BALTIMORE, Feb. 22-AI-
though President Clinton's pro-
gram for national service is still
in the planning stages at the
White House, Lawrence Shird is
taking the concept and running
with it through this city's rough-
THE WASHINGTON POST
and-tumble urban sprawl.
After six years of dealing
drugs and hustling on the streets
here, the 22-year-old has turned
his energies to Civic Works, a
new program that debuted today
and is designed to put inner-city
young adults ages 17 to 23 to
work rebuilding their neighbor-
hoods.
"When you look at our neigh-
borhoods, you can see that get-
ting them cleaned up won't be
easy," Shird said. "But I know one
thing. If it's going to happen, it's
got to start with people like me
who come from the streets.
Who's going to want to help us if
we don't help ourselves?"
Shird is one of 25 participants
in Civic Works, a six-month pro-
gram that includes classes in car-
pentry, construction, household
management and job readiness.
According to founder and di-
Some of Civic Works' 25 participants repaint the Clifton Mansion.
rector Dana Stein, a former
Washington lawyer, the object of
participants said Civic Works was
chance," said Seth Goldman, a
Civic Works is to prepare partic-
attractive because it offered a
Civic Works coordinator. "What
ipants for employment in the pri-
chance to invest in the commu-
we are telling them is we're will-
vate sector and to involve them
nity.
ing to invest in them. That does
in revitalizing low-income areas.
Vanessa Williams, 20, a moth-
wonders for their self-esteem."
The official kickoff took place
er of two, cited the opportunity
The program has stringent
in a ceremony at the organiza-
to mitigate crime in her neigh-
rules that, among others, prohib-
tion's headquarters here, with
borhood, where shootings and
it headphones or beepers and
Mayor Kurt Schmoke (D) and
drug dealing are common.
mandate dismissal after two un-
Maryland's Democratic senators,
"I don't have any illusions
excused absences.
A6 TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 23. 1993
Barbara A. Mikulski and Paul S.
about what a group like ours can
Stein, 34, was a corporate law-
Sarbanes on hand to endorse it.
do about that kind of situation,"
yer with the Washington-based
Civic Works is riding the crest
she said. "But I think that, if we
firm of Squire Sanders & Demp-
of renewed American interest in
put our minds together, we can
sey before founding Civic Works
make a difference."
civic service, inspired in part by
with encouragement from Kath-
the exhortations of Clinton, who
While most of the group's ef-
forts are to involve construction
leen Kennedy Townsend, direc-
seeks to initiate a national ser-
work in parks and other public
tor of the Maryland Student Ser-
vice program under which par-
ticipants can pay for college ed-
facilities, one day a week is de-
vice Alliance, and a $466,000
ucations.
voted to discussing neighborhood
federal grant. Several private
problems.
corporations have contributed.
While many other service pro-
The group has started creating
Goldman, 27, was a press aide
grams attract the well-educated
skits dealing with AIDS, drug
to then-Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-
or affluent, Civie Works draws
addiction, sexual harassment and
Tex.) before joining the Civic
heavily from those who have had
other subjects and plans to stage
Works staff last month.
scrapes with the law or trouble
them in Baltimore schools.
"As much as I enjoyed working
finishing high school.
"This is a wonderful way of try-
in Congress, I really was anxious
Isthis
Participants include a former
ing to help younger kids keep from
to get involved in something
drug dealer, 20; a high school
going through some of the prob-
where I could make a difference,"
senior, 18, with a history of car
lems we went through," said Don-
Goldman said. "And the inner city
theft, and several high school
ald Ferebee, 18, who acknowleged
is an area where a difference really
the to sell
dropouts and unwed parents.
that he had been a member of a
needs to be made.
They were chosen from 84 ap-
car-stealing gang.
"Given some of the hardships
plicants.
"Most of the participants in the
some of these people have been
Besides the $130 weekly sal-
program are people who have
through, I thought it would be hard
thiprogram?
ary, job training and a $900 bo-
had one chance in life and blown
getting them engaged. But it's not.
nus for successful completion,
it or have have never really had a
They're bursting to get engaged."
'Lifelong Learning'
THE WASHINGTON POST
Lifelong learning must benefit not just
THE STATE OF THE UNION
young high school graduates but workers,
too, throughout their career. The average
President Clinton's Address
18-year-old today will change jobs seven
times in a lifetime. We have done a lot in
Feb 17, 1993
this country on worker training in the last
few years, but the system is too fractured.
We must develop a unified, simplified, sen-
sible, streamlined worker training program
so that workers receive the training they
need regardless of why they lost their jobs
or whether they simply need to learn some-
thing new to keep them. We have got to do
better on this.
And finally, I propose a program that got
a great response from the American people
all across this country last year, a program
of national service to make college loans
available to all Americans, and to challenge
them at the same time to give something
back to their country, as teachers or police
officers or community service workers; to
give them the option to pay the loans back,
but at tax time so they can't beat the bill,
but to encourage them instead to pay it
back by making their country stronger and
making their country better and giving us
the benefit of their talents.
A generation ago, when President Ken-
nedy proposed and the United States Con-
gress embraced the Peace Corps, it defined
the character of a whole generation of
Americans committed to serving people
around the world, In this national service
program, we will provide more than twice
as many slots for people before they go to
college to be in national service than ever
served in the Peace Corps. This program
could do for this generation of members of
Congress what the Land Grant College Act
did and what the GI Bill did for former con-
gressmen.
In the future, historians who got their
education through the national service loan
will look back on you and thank you for giv-
ing America a new lease on life if you meet
this challenge.
If we believe in jobs and we believe in
learning, we must believe in rewarding
work. If we believe in restoring the values
that make America special, we must believe
that there is dignity in all work, and there
must be dignity for all workers. To those
who care for our sick, who tend our chil-
dren, who do our most difficult and tiring
jobs, the new direction I propose will make
this solemn, simple commitment: by ex-
panding the refundable earned income tax
credit, we will make history; we will reward
the work of millions of working poor Amer-
icans by realizing the principle that if you
work 40 hours a week and you've got a
child in the house, you will no longer be in
poverty.
'Here's the Challenge I Will Offer
The Congress and the Country'
are still out of work. And, as this
Reuter
should do nothing. Well, American
chart indicates, if this were a real
business has been forced to become
Following is President Clinton's
normal recovery, three million
more competitive in this global
address from the Oval Office last
more Americans would already be
economy, and I'm glad that consum-
night:
back at work now. In fact, there are
er confidence is up since the elec-
ood evening. I have
more jobless people now than there
tion.
G
chosen this day on
were at what the experts call the
But we are not generating jobs or
which we honor two
bottom of this recession.
making headway on these other
great presidents to
All during this last 12 years the
long-term problems.
talk with you about
federal deficit has roared out of con-
My message to you is clear: The
the serious problems and the great
trol. Look at this: The big tax cuts
price of doing the same old thing is
promise of our country, and the ab-
for the wealthy, the growth in gov-
far higher than the price of change.
solute necessity for change if we
ernment spending, and soaring
After all, that's why you sent me
are to secure a better future for
health care costs all caused the fed-
ourselves and for our children.
eral deficit to explode. Our debt is
here-not to keep this seat warm,
On Wednesday evening I'll ad-
now four times as big as it was in
but to work for fundamental
1980-that's right. In the last 12
change, to make Washington work
dress the Congress about the spe-
cifics of my plan, but first I turn to
years we've piled up four times as
for all Americans, not just the spe-
much debt as in the previous 200.
cial interests, and to chart a course
you for your strength and support,
Now if all that debt had been in-
that will enable us to compete and
to enlist you in the cause of chang-
ing our course. This is a momen-
vested in strengthening our econ-
win in this new world.
tous time for our nation. We stand
omy, we'd at least have something
Here's the challenge I will offer
to show for our money-more jobs,
the Congress and the country on
at the end of the Cold War and on
better educated people, a health
Wednesday. We'll invest in our fu-
the edge of the 21st century. For
care system that works. But, as you
ture by nurturing our children and
two decades we've moved steadily
toward a global economy in which
can see, while the deficit went up,
supporting their education, by re-
we must compete with people
investments in the things that make
warding work and family, by cre-
around the world, a world which
us stronger and smarter, richer and
ating the jobs of the future and
requires us to work hard and smart,
safer were neglected. Less invest-
training our people to fill them. Our
a world in which putting people first
ment in education, less in our chil-
every effort will reflect what Pres-
ident Franklin Roosevelt called
is more than a political slogan-it's
dren's future, less in transportation,
a philosophy of governing and the
less in local law enforcement. An
"bold, persistent experimentation,"
only path to prosperity.
awful lot of that money was just
a willingness to stay with things
For 12 years we followed a very
wasted.
that work and stop things that
don't.
different philosophy. It declared
This matters. When you don't
that government is the problem,
invest in jobs and education and
Change must begin at the top.
that fairness to the middle class is
economic opportunity, unemploy-
That's why I cut the White House
less important than keeping taxes
ment goes up and our incomes go
staff by 25 percent and ordered fed-
down. And when the deficit gets
eral agencies to cut billions of dol-
low on the wealthy, that govern-
lars in administrative costs and to
ment can do nothing about our
bigger and bigger and bigger, the
deepest problems-lost jobs, de-
government takes more of your
trim 100,000 federal positions by
clining wages, increasing inequality,
money just for interest payments,
attrition. And in my budget there
inadequate educational opportunity
and then it's harder for you to bor-
will be more than 150 specific cuts
and a health care system that costs
row money for your own business
in government spending programs.
Then I will ask the wealthiest
a fortune but does too little.
or to afford a new home or to send a
child to college. That's exactly
Americans to pay their fair share.
During those 12 years, as gov-
ernor of Arkansas, I followed a very
what's been happening.
That brings us to those of you
who gave the most in the 1980s. I
different course, more like what
Once our living standards dou-
you've done at home and at work: I
bled every 25 years. But at the rate
had hoped to invest in your future
by creating jobs, expanding educa-
invested in the future of our people
we're going today, our living stan-
and balanced the state budget with
dard won't double for another hun-
tion, reforming health care and re-
honesty and fairness and without
dred years-until our grandchil-
ducing the debt without asking
more of you. And I've worked hard-
gimmicks. It's just common sense,
dren's grandchildren are born.
That's too long.
er than I've ever worked in my life
but in the 26 days I've been your
to meet that goal. But I can't be-
president I've already learned that
We must act now to restore the
cause the deficit has increased so
here in Washington common sense
American dream.
much, beyond my earlier estimates
isn't too common. And you've paid a
Despite the enormity of this cri-
lot for that loss of common sense.
sis, believe it or not the status quo
The typical middle-class family is
still has its defenders-people who
working harder for less. Despite
point to hopeful statistics, like the
THE WASHINGTON POST
the talk of a recovery, more than
recent increase in productivity and
nine million of our fellow citizens
consumer confidence, and say we
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1993 A9
of the middle class. Then we'll chal-
lenge them to give something back
to our country-as teachers, police
officers, community service work-
ers, taking care of our own right
here at home. And we'll do it all
while reducing our debt.
Change this fundamental will not
and beyond even the worst official
be easy nor will it be quick. But at
government estimates from last
stake is the control of our economic
year. We just have to face the fact
destiny. Within minutes of the time
that to make the changes our coun-
I conclude my address to Congress
try needs, more Americans must
Wednesday night, the special inter-
contribute today so that all Amer-
ests will be out in force. Those
icans can do better tomorrow.
who've profited from the status quo
will oppose the changes we seek-
But I can assure you of this:
the budget cuts, the revenue in-
You're not going alone anymore,
creases, the new investment prior-
you're not going first, and you're no
ities. Every step of the way they'll
longer going to pay more and get
oppose it. Many have already lined
less. Seventy percent of the new
the corridors of power with high-
taxes I'll propose-70 percent-
priced lobbyists. They are the de-
will be paid by those who make
fenders of decline-and we must be
more than $100,000 a year. And for
the architects of the future.
the first time in more than a dec-
ade, we're all in this together.
I'm confident in our cause, be-
cause I believe in America. And I
More important is the payoff.
know we have learned the hard les-
Our comprehensive plan for eco-
sons of the 1980s. This is your
nomic growth will create millions of
country. You demonstrated the
long-term, good-paying jobs, includ-
power of the people in the last elec-
ing a program to jump-start our
tion. I urge you to stay informed
economy with another 500,000 jobs
in 1993 and 1994. And as we make
and to stay involved. If you're vig-
deep cuts in existing government
ilant and vocal, we can do what we
have to do.
programs, we'll make new invest-
ments where they'll do the most
On this Presidents' Day, we re-
good: incentives to business to cre-
call the many times in our history
ate new jobs; investments in edu-
when past presidents have chal-
cation and training: special efforts
lenged this nation from this office in
for displaced defense workers; a
times of crisis. If you will join with
fairer tax system to ensure that
me, we can create an economy in
parents who work full-time will no
which all Americans work hard and
longer raise their children in pov-
prosper. This is nothing less than a
erty; welfare reform to move peo-
call to arms to restore the vitality of
ple from welfare to work; vaccina-
the American dream.
tions and Head Start opportunities
When I was a boy we had a name
for all children who need them; and
for the belief that we should all pull
a system of affordable quality health
together to build a better, stronger
care for all Americans.
nation. We called it patriotism-
Our national service plan will
and we still do.
throw open the doors of college op-
Good night, and God bless Amer-
portunity to the daughters and sons
ica.
Past 2/8/93
Looking for Money in ACTION
resident Clinton's national service coordi-
members for more than a decade, served as floor as-
P
nator, Eli Segal, having conceded there's no
sistant to two majority whips.
money for a major program, is looking to
Hill Republicans also are gearing up. William D.
scrounge a few bucks or ideas from existing volun-
Harris, the Republican operative who won some no-
tary programs.
toriety by managing the controversial GOP conven-
Segal hit the streets recently and guess what he
tion in Houston in August, has landed on his feet
found? Remember ACTION, the '60s anti-poverty
with a job as executive director of the National Re-
agency. long thought dead? Well, it lives, right here
publican Senatorial Committee.
in downtown Washington, with a staff of 160 people
Joining Harris, 45, at the senatorial committee
here and another 260 around the country.
will be David M. Carney, a former White House po-
Better yet, for Segal's purposes, it has a budget
litical aide and national field director for the Bush-
of $200 million a year and 3,300 VISTA volunteers
Quayle campaign, and Gary Koops, who was press
(down from a peak of
secretary at the Republican National Committee.
4,700 in the mid-'70s)
Carney, 33, will be deputy executive director, and
out there working
Koops, 30, will be communications director.
with the poor, along
The three will be working under the direction of
with three successful
Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Tex.), the committee chairman
programs involving
whose prospects as a possible presidential candidate
the elderly, including
in 1996 depend in part on the performance of the
Foster Grandparents.
committee in the 1994 elections.
THE NEW REGIME
Segal apparently
On the Democratic side, word is that House
has concluded that
Speaker Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash.) has picked
ACTION's overhead
Bruce F. Vento (D-Minn.) to head the Speaker's
is in excess of what would be needed to maintain the
Task Force on Homelessness that Clinton asked for
program and that the agency has severe adminis-
to help him come up with solutions to the problem.
trative problems that require prompt attention, one
source said Segal, a Massachusetts businessman
Help for O'Leary at Energy Dept.
from the lean-management school, is convinced the
Energy Secretary Hazel R. O'Leary has no dep-
program can be run smaller.
uty, no undersecretary and no assistant secre-
Former ACTION workers are stunned at what
taries-and a very full plate-as she tries to eval-
one called the "incredibly wrong choices" the White
uate the department's
House has made in picking career officials to run the
myriad programs and
place until the Clintonites get around to replacing
make spending decisions
them.
for President Clinton's
The new acting director, John C. Seal, and other
soon-to-be-crafted bud-
top management, all senior civil service employees,
get. She has sought ex-
were put in high positions by the last director, Jane
perienced help. Wash-
A. Kenny, an aide to George Bush in the mid-1980s,
ington veteran Daniel A.
former workers say. Agency loyalists who suffered
Dreyfus, vice president
under persistent GOP efforts to dismantle the place
of the Gas Research In-
now feel stabbed in the back.
stitute and a former staff
ACTION is not the only place where Bush appoin-
director of the Senate
tees and senior civil service people are being ele-
Energy and Natural Re-
vated, at least temporarily, under Clinton. Angry
sources Committee, re-
Democratic old-timers say the inmates are running
portedly
will
join
the asylum everywhere.
O'Leary's staff this
One problem, Democratic loyalists say, is that 12
HAZEL R. O'LEARY
week. Title, salary and
years of GOP rule blurred the distinction between
exact duties are being
"political" and career officials, and many of the ca-
worked out, but he won't be an assistant secretary
reer people who have risen to the top throughout
because his name didn't come through the White
the government are either Republicans or those
House.
who have most zealously carried out the GOP man-
dates.
Possible Reorganization at AID
Clinton's puzzlement over the ferocious com-
Beefing Up Democratic Credentials
petition for the job of director of the Agency for
The Duberstein Group, a firm headed by Kenneth
International Development must have increased
M. Duberstein, who was chief of staff to former
last weekend. On Friday, Deputy Secretary of
president Ronald Reagan, is increasing its Demo-
State Clifton R. Wharton Jr. announced he is go-
cratic credentials, adding Steven M. Champlin, ex-
ing to review the beleaguered agency and present
ecutive director of the House Democratic Caucus.
a reorganization plan to Congress in 90 days.
Champlin, who has worked for Democratic House
-Al Kamen
Community
Service Plan
SERVICE, From A1
Scaled Back
there are now more than 5 million
Two weeks ago, the group
college students with government
charged with studying this issue,
loans-potential candidates for join-
the Commission on National and
ing a new service corps.
Community Service, projected that,
Deficit Pinches
Because of costs and logistics-
realistically, about 60,000 stu-
some estimates say there are no
dents-about the number that at-
Clinton's 'Dream'
more than 30,000 community ser-
tend Ohio State University's
vice slots now available in the coun-
Columbus campus-could partic-
try-it could be years before more
ipate in the first year. The group
By Mary Jordan
than a fraction of eligible students
set the cost at more than billion.
and Ann Devroy
could participate in Clinton's pro-
White House advisers said they
Washington Post Staff Writers
posed program.
are still working out the number of
Charles Moskos, a Northwestern
students to include and the amount
President Clinton is plan-
University professor involved in
of loan forgiveness. They also are
ning to unveil a small pilot
program allowing some col-
planning the National Service Trust
considering allowing high school
lege students to repay gov-
Fund, said there is "general agree-
graduates to participaté, on the the-
ernment loans through com-
ment" among Clinton's advisers
ory that it makes sense for students
munity service instead of the
that, for the program to be mean-
to do the work before they get the
huge new "defining initiative"
ingful, the government would have
loan benefit, and that it also may be
described during his cam-
to offer a loan forgiveness "of be-
easier for younger students to live
paign.
tween $5,000 and $10,000 a year"
on what may amount to $5,000 a
Eli Segal, the presidential
for each student.
year in living expenses.
assistant in charge of the na-
In addition, the community ser-
Bill Galston, the deputy assistant
tional service plan, said in an
vice models being studied show that
to the president working on national
interview that Clinton's
it costs another $10,000 for one
service, said Clinton "has consis-
"dream" for a nationwide pro-
community service worker's yearly
tently placed a high priority on na-
gram that would be available
pay, medical insurance and admin-
tional service" and continues to do
to all students will have to
istrative costs.
so.
give way at the outset to "the
Figuring an average of $18,000
reality of the deficit."
per student, a program involving
Segal said the president
100,000 students would cost $1.8
does not want to create a
billion.
"massive new federal pro-
"This program is very, very ex-
gram" but plans to start small,
pensive," said Brian Fitzgerald, staff
relying on the most successful
director of the Advisory Committee
existing programs, and build
on Student Financial Assistance,
from there. The administra-
the standing committee created by
tion also will seek financial
Congress to advise it on student
support from state and local
aid. "Realistically, this means you
governments as well as busi-
have to start small."
nesses and nonprofit groups.
Many others on Capitol Hill
During the campaign, Clin-
agree. Yesterday, the National
ton said that allowing all in-
Commission on Responsibilities for
terested students-rich, mid-
dle income and poor-to work
Financing Postsecondary Educa-
off college debt as teachèrs,
tion, a commission set up by Con-
police officers or in other ser-
gress, met with the House and Sen-
ate education leadership and rec-
Washington
vice in the community is a
"symbol of what this campaign
ommended that no more than
Post Feb 4, 1993
is all about." Clinton often re-
50,000 students bè involved in
ferred to his proposed Nation-
startup of the service program.
al Service Trust Fund as "the
Also, citing competing education-
best money we will ever
al needs, it urged that no more than
spend."
20 percent of a student's loan, or an
But now, White House ad-
average of $2,000, be forgiven an-
visers are worried that it may
nually.
cost too much. It could run
If local businesses or communi-
$18,000 a year to place one
ties benefiting from the student
student for a year in a service
help pay the stipend and other
job, according to those in-
costs, the commission said, it would
volved in shaping the admin-
still cost the federal government
istration's proposal. And,
$100 million a year.
See SERVICE, A10, Col. 1
Panel Urges
College Aid
Overhaul
Commission Attempts
To Respond to Decade
Of Spiraling Costs
By Mary Jordan
Washington Post Staff Writer
A congressionally mandated com-
mission, citing "rising anxiety in
America" over the cost of a college
degree, is to call today for a radi-
cally different college aid system
and far more relief for poor and
middle-income students.
During the 1980s, the cost of
attending a private college or uni-
versity soared 146 percent-a
higher rate than that of medical,
home, food and car costs, the com-
mission's report said. But at the
same time, federal aid failed to keep
pace or to help families with the
mounting burden, now second only
to the cost of a home in the typical
American family's budget.
Currently, the report said, stu-
dent aid programs are so confused
and complicated that many families
either overextend themselves with
huge debts or never know if their
children qualify for federal assist-
ance. The problems, the commis-
sion said, have contributed to a $3
billion annual government loss in
defaulted student loans.
The bipartisan panel's report, a
copy of which was obtained by The
Washington Post, recommends that
the federal government spend an
Washington Post
additional $7 billion a year to help
students pay for college.
The recommendations, which
follow two years of public hearings
around the country, are to be
presented to President Clinton and
House and Senate education leaders
this morning. Although polls show
increasing public concern about the
rising cost of college tuition, federal
budget deficits may make it difficult
for the panel's recommendations to
win congressional support.
But Clinton has promised to re-
vamp the federal student aid sys-
tem, and many of the panel's rec-
ommendations are in keeping with
his campaign pledges.
COLLEGE, From A1
students, regardless of family in-
"Right now there is so much COI
come, would have access to
fusion and complexity," said Jami
The commission, charged with
$14,000-a-year in federal aid. But
Merisotis, the executive director
finding a better way for the federal
the amount would be divided into
the nine-member commission
government to help finance college
grants, work-study and loans, de-
political, business and education:
costs, recommends completely
pending on a family's income.
leaders appointed by the presider
scrapping the current system, ad-
Poor students, for example,
and Congress and funded with a $
ministered by the Education De-
would qualify for a maximum
million grant. "If every studer
partment and involving state guar-
$4,000 in grants-an increase from
knows they are going to get a fixe
antee agencies, banks and other
the current $2,300-and another
amount of aid, we think that sti
lenders.
$10,000 in work-study and subsi-
dents will begin to shop around fc
The proposal seeks, for the first
dized loans.
colleges that they could afford."
time, to set a $14,000-a-year stan-
Families earning over $100,000
Merisotis said that ultimately
dard for the amount of federal aid
also would be eligible for $14,000 a
the new program could change th
students may receive.
year in unsubsidized, government-
way students choose their college
backed loans. Unlike poor or mid-
The amount, which would be di-
dle-income families, they would
They might select schools more
vided among federal grant and loan
line with the amount of aid they ar
have to pay the loan interest while
programs, is based on an estimate
the student was still in school.
receiving. This also could put som
of the average cost of educating a
If a student's total college ex-
pressure on colleges to moderat
student in public and private col-
penditures were less than $14,000,
their cost increases, he said.
leges and would change annually.
the aid would not exceed costs.
Other recommendations by th
Currently, the amount of grants
"This adds one heck of a lot more
National Commission on Respor
and loans students receive from the
certainty to the system," said Rob-
sibilities for Financing Postsecon
government varies with the cost of
ert Atwell, president of the Amer-
ary Education include:
tuition. The aid also can vary dras-
ican Council on Education, the
A direct government lending sy:
tically depending on how much Con-
group that represents most of the
tem eliminating banks and othe
gress appropriates in a given year.
nation's colleges. "Students would
lenders. Some studies have show
Under the proposed system, all
now know how much aid to expect."
that this approach would be bot
PAYING FOR COLLEGE
A
congressionally mandated
Family contribution/
commission proposes the
unsubsidized loan
simpler for the student and less
following mix for college assistance
Subsidized loan
costly for the government.
A new national service program
for a typical family of four.
Work-study
far less extensive than the one Clin-
FEDERAL AID DOLLARS
Pell grants
ton promised during his campaign.
$14,000
The panel recommends that for the
first year, 50,000 students would
12,000
be involved and that 20 percent of
their government loan-or an es-
10,000
timated average of $2,000-could
8,000
be forgiven in a given year of ser-
vice. While some cost estimates for
6,000
Clinton's plan are well over $1 bil-
4,000
lion, the commission's small-scale
plan would cost $100 million.
2,000
A new mechanism easing the re-
0
payment burden on students who
$0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
take lower-paying jobs. Currently, it
Family income in thousands
makes no difference whether a stuᵢ
dent takes a job as a low-salary
SOURCE: National Commission on Responsibilities for Financing Postsecondary Education
youth counselor or a highly paid
THE WASHINGTON PUS
Wall Street investment adviser-he
or she must pay back the loan at a
save for college by allowing penal-
"national interest" to make colleg
set amount depending on the size of
ty-free withdrawals from Individual
more affordable. "We will be fore
the loan.
Retirement Accounts for college
er limited by the economic inequa
The interest on students loans
tuition payments.
ities that exist among people in ou
would become tax deductible, as it
Sen. James M. Jeffords (R-Vt.),
country," he said in the report,
once was.
the author of the legislation creat-
the government does not act 1.
Families would be encouraged to
ing the commission, said it is in the
make college more affordable.
National Service:- t's Just Too Expensive
To the growing lis of promises education jobs be happy to see the by defeating the efforts of the hapless
with full health care coverage,
that Mr. Cliston has et aside as the
cheeky new government-paid "volun-
new volunteers and further burdening
$10,000 a year payback of the (
reality of governing obtrudes on the
teers" arrive, eliminate private sector
students who choose not to join up
loan, with an overall annual salary
inaugural gilas, he should add that
growth in low-skill jobs and drive
with National Service?
of at least $16,000-or $32.00
dreamy but expensive campaign vi-
down the private pay scale? Would the
The arguments about the philoso-
the two years of "service." (Milli
sion, "National Service."
volunteers themselves really serve
phy and the practical effects of nation-
Americans work for less.)
The idea, whose father was mili-
society best in such artificial, tempo-
al Service apparently have not dimin-
In other words, we would pay
tary conscription and whose mother
rary posts, expending tax revenues,
ished Clinton's support for the
was the Depression era Civilian Con-
numbers of students to go to C
or by getting on with their own ca
concept, as his designation of a White
servation Corps, was incubated in the
reers and contributing to tax reve-
and then pay them again at goven
House office on National Service
Progressive Policy Institute in the
nues?
funded jobs for two years, for a to
shows. But there is one other; much
'80's, placed in the foster care of the
What, also, about the Americans
of at least $53,000 per student!
higher, obstacle to a full-blown Na-
Democratic Leidership Council and
who in growing numbers donate their
estimates, moreover, are based
tional Service scheme, and that is the
then adopted by the Clinton cam-
time and money to private charity-
federal deficit. Are the new presi-
proposal now five years old. The (
paign. It is a favorite of the new
people who believe civic virtue
the proposal then was some $13
dent's protestations of concern for
"communitarial" movement, which
comes, as de Tocqueville held, from
fiscal responsibility (and shrinking the
and it certainly would be higher
apparently seeks to provide balance
private associations rather than, as
number of federal employees) sin-
And those are only the direct cost
to the benefits the government would
the followers of Rousseau hold, from
cere? If so, a National Service pro-
Regardless of what one thinks
heap upon the people by heaping up
actions of the state? Will the numbers
gram is just too expensive.
National Service, then, it is do
new responsibilities that the people
of private volunteers continue to
The original National Service
that the new administration cou
will owe the government.
grow when the government gets into
scheme foresaw up to $21,000 being
deem this campaign promise an
Though the plan was fairly specific
the business of creating new govern-
made available per student in "loans."
maintain credibility in backing i
in its intellectual inception-with
ment workers and calling them "vol-
Settling this debt could be accom-
more consequential promises to r
budgets spelled out, for example, in
unteers"?
plished by the student's paying it back
government bureaucracy and low
the Democratic Leadership Council
Meanwhile, what is to prevent col-
or taking a publicly financed National
federal deficit.
Version-the Clinton campaign's use
leges and universities from respond-
Service job for two years. These Na-
of it was reduced to a generality
ing to the new infusion of federal aid
tional Service jobs would provide a
The writer is a former director.
invoked at Democratic rallies.
by raising overall tuition rates, there-
"subsistence living." but tax free and
U.S. Census Bureau.
The "Clinton-Gore Plan" for educa-
tion put out by the campaign head-
quarters in Little Rock included only
this simple pledge:
"Maintain the Pell Grant program
but. scrap the existing student loan
program and establish a National Ser-
vice Trust Fund to guarantee every
American who wants a college educa-
Source: Washington Post, Jan 1993
tion the means to obtain one. Those
who borrow from the fund will pay it
back either as a small percentage of
their income over time, or through
community service as teachers, law
enforcement officers, health care
workers or peer counselors helping
kids stay off drugs and in school."
Inspected, however, this dream
breaks up. There is less and less
reason to believe that providing gov-
ernment funds for "every American
who wants a college education" should
be a high priority objective in a soci-
ety where, for the first time, many
people in the unemployment lines
possess college diplomas and where
many poorly prepared youth who
nonetheless secure low-cost college
opportunities soon drop out of school
because they cannot perform the
work.
National Service advocates also err
conceptually when they imagine that
the ideal of true "service," as our
Judeo-Christian tradition has under-
stood it, can best be inculcated
through paid positions financed by the
government. If so, the CETA jobs
program of the 1970s-a notorious
source of "waste, fraud, and abuse" if
there ever was one-should have
made us holy indeed.
Once taxpayers saw National Ser-
vice in action, would they really think
they were getting a bargain by paying
for students' college loans and then
paying again to hire these same peo-
ple in government-financed jobs?
Would workers now in health care and
The Washington Post, Sunday, January 3, 1992, pages C1 and C4
method of loan repayment, national service
could beget extraordinary benefits, both for
participants and the country at large. An
Peace
army of hundreds of thousands of workers
could take a big bite out of educational,',
health, law-enforcement and environmental
needs. In the process, suburbanites and in
nér-city residents could work side by side,
(Corps) in
temporarily shattering economic and social
barriers. And-of particular interest now
when we hear so much talk about a gener-
ation of lost "twentysomethings"-a serious
Our Time
national service program might help instill
certain sense of self and of country.
But even if national service ultimately
deserves our support, we need to recognize
some hard truths: This is a program with a
National Service: Making
host of potentially major, if not fatal, prob-
lems. Let's take several of the most seri-
Clinton's Good Idea Work
ous:
Cost. National service is simply not in
keeping with the spirit of a deficit-trim-
By Joshua Abramowitz
ming administration. Look at the cost of
Boston's City Year program. This vaunted
T 8:15 tomorrow morning, over
and successful program, founded several
A
200 young men and women will
years ago, shells out $20,000 per partic-
gather in the plaza in front of Bos-
"ipant, per year: $10,000 for administrative
ton's City Hall. Braving the cold of
and programming expenses; $5,000 for
a New England winter, they will perform a
the participant's stipend; and $5,000 for a
series of calisthenics and then head off for
certificate, issued upon completion of the
full day's worth of good works-perhaps
program, that can be used to pay educa-
tutoring children or remodeling homes.
tional or job-training expenses.
They are enrolled in City Year, a prototype
Even this cost may be modest: City Year
for a national service program that could
is small (and hence unbureaucratic), was
soon become a rite of passage for hundreds
founded by two dedicated Harvard Law
of thousands of young Americans.
graduates and has enjoyed extensive cor-
Indeed, with the Clinton presidency im-
porate support. The Bank of Boston went
minent, the longtime pet project of a dispa-
rate group-running the gamut from Sen.
so far as to lend the program an executive
Edward Kennedy to the communitarians to
for two years to help it expand. Presum-
conservative William F. Buckley-might be
ably, not every local national service unit
about to make its way off the drawing
would have all these advantages.
board.
To allow for a meaningful amount of
Clinton has not yet put forth all the spe-
loan forgiveness, a national program would
cifics of his new "Domestic Peace Corps"
probably need to offer at least $10,000 in
but says he will tie national service to a re-
educational benefits-twice as much as
vamped college-loan program. He wants to
City Year offers. We could thus be paying
create a national trust fund from which any-
$25,000 per participant (considerably
one could borrow to finance a college ed-
more than the market value of the work
ucation. Loans could be repaid either
that would be done). A small-scale pro-
through paycheck deductions after gradu-
gram of 500,000 participants, enrolling
ation-adjusted for income, BO that no one
would be penalized for a low-paying job-or
only a fraction of college graduates, could
through national service. Those who chose
easily require $12.5 billion annually-
the latter option would receive a small sti-
about equal to what NASA spent last year.
pend to cover basic needs and have as much
Advocates explain away this cost by
as two years of loans forgiven for each of up
pointing to the $3 billion that the govern-
to two years of service.
ment loses annually on student loan de-
Invoking the idealistic spirit of JFK's
faults. But this would still cover less than a
Peace Corps, national service earns high
quarter of a $12.5 billion cost. More im-
marks in public opinion polls and earnest
portantly, a voluntary national service pro-
applause when Clinton speaks. And de-
gram would likely enroll only a small per-
servedly so. Much more than a convenient
centage of those who receive federal as-
sistance each year. Therefore, we would
not stop losing money on other loans. In
fact, if Clinton were to follow through on
Joshua Abramowitz is an assistant editor of
his proposal to make education loans avail-
the Public Interest.
able to anyone, the amount of money lost
might actually increase.
To control national service costs, a Clin-
sorts of people are accepted. But if anyone
In short, these unions seem to suppo:
ton administration will need to draw on
who so desires would be automatically al-
national service only if they can make
every bit of its lithe, "reinventing govern-
lowed to join a national service program,
into a training program that will expan
ment" spirit. It will need to take note of
disciplinary problems might be more se-
their own ranks.
fact that most of City Year's funds are
vere.
Nevertheless, Clinton cannot shove his
ately raised. Similarly, it should look
Discipline and morale, as well as so
national service tractor into gear and ride
..0 ways to tap into the pocketbooks of
much else of what national service hopes
roughshod over union opposition-after
local government. And when possible, it
to achieve, may depend on a program's
all, the NEA, the American Federation of
might also require that recipients of na-
ability to attract a somewhat represent-
State and Municipal Employees (AFSME)
tional service work contribute a modest
ative social and economic cross-section of
and other major unions were among his
sum to the program.
the country. The dream of service sup-
most ardent supporters. He'll have to
Clinton will also need to remind the
porters is that a national program would
tread carefully here.
American people that, for all national ser-
have the same effect on youth as did World
Politicization: A final pitfall into which
vice is likely to cost, there is a payback.
War II: As the children of ditch-diggers
national service could fall is politicization.
Not only might national servers do a lot of
serve with the children of Rockefellers,
VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America)
good work-albeit not work that the mar-
rich and poor will recognize a common hu-
was founded in 1964 as a domestic Peace
ketplace or taxpayers currently find worth
manity and shared nationality. But if plan-
Corps. But in the mid '70s, the program
paying for-but they might be able to car-
ners aren't careful, national service might
was charged with "empowering the poor,"
fy it off with an essential degree of ideal-
turn out more like Vietnam: The better-off
and participants became involved in a
ism and enthusiasm.
will avoid service while the poor, depen-
number of left-wing causes (organizing
Still, the cost of engaging a young adult
dent on government aid, will shuffle off for
tenant strikes, for example). Increasingly
in two years of service must also be con-
a year or two of lowly work. It will take a
controversial, VISTA was cut back by the
sidered in terms of missed opportunities.
delicately structured and widely popular
Reagan administration in the early '80s. A
What would a national service participant
program to ensure that the national expe-
national service program will need to lay
be doing otherwise? If the answer is deal-
rience resembles the former vision more
down clearly the conditions under which
than the latter.
ing drugs, then the benefit of time spent in
political, religious or other sectarian work
national service is obvious. But what about
Displacement. Unions, meanwhile, wor-
will be permitted.
my sister, who will soon head to medical
ry that national service will work all too
well, and that eager-beaver college grad-
A
S one who very much wants to be-
school? Should she really be encouraged to
lieve that national service can work,
uates will outshine their tenured, dues-
spend two taxpayer-financed years tending
paying superiors, endangering the jobs of
I find it difficult to be optimistic
to a garden in front of a home for the el-
the latter (Besides, the servers will be a
amidst this cacophony of potential prob-
derly? Or are we better off if she becomes
lot cheaper.) Not to worry, say advocates:
lems. Yet the fact is that national service
doctor as soon as possible so that she can
National servers will only be assigned
does not need to be trapped by any of
help to those inside?
tasks that no one would otherwise per-
these pitfalls. Costs could be controlled.
Discipline and morale. For the same
form.
Discipline and morale could be kept up.
This might be stretching the truth. Al-
Displacement could be minimized. reduc-
reason that one doesn't tip a waiter before
the meal has been served, we should be
though Clinton will be careful to minimize
ing union opposition And politicization
wary of giving national servers a free, or
direct displacement-how else will he get
could be avoided
partially free, education before they have
his program passed?-it's inevitable that
Indeed, the best plan is to proceed cau-
indirect displacement will occur. (The
tiqusly, not to give up. While it might be
done any work. And Clinton will need to
much-maligned CETA jobs programs for
politically tempting for Clinton to start
determine what incentives and penalties
might ensure that participants bother to
both adults and youth provide plenty of
big, making national service work probably
show up in the morning and work. National
evidence on this score.) Teachers' assis-
requires starting small and then gradually
service could face quite a disciplinary di-
tants diminish the need for new teachers;
increasing. New programs could be en-
lemma: If delinquency were tolerated, the
police assistants make beefing up a force
couraged and assisted, while problems in
morale of a whole unit could be dragged
with additional cops less necessary.
existing programs like City Year could be
down; on the other hand, if a program
Unions are aware of this situation, but in-
further identified and a more informed
decision could eventually be made on if
were too quick to give delinquents the
stead of rejecting national service out-
and how national service might be ex-
boot, those who might be most helped
right, they would like to co-opt it.
panded.
would be the first dismissed.
The National Education Association
"We're learning things here all the
To the extent possible, a national pro-
(NEA) the largest teachers union sup
time," says City Year co-director Michael
gram should follow the example of the City
ports allowing national servers to work as
Brown, who found health and substance
Year program. Under its crew-based
teachers' aides only fathey are properly
abuse workshops, for example, more es.
structure, participants are divided into
trained, supervised and licensed. "If
sential to his program than he originally
disciplined units with clear rules, and
they're going to teach, they should be-
predicted. Clinton's national service plar
members keep morale high through self-
come teachers," says an NEA analyst. Sim-
should proceed in this spirit. Downplaying
reinforcement and mutual encouragement.
ilarly, although the Fraternal Order of Po-
the enormous difficulties involved in large
Slackers are talked to and helped-and
lice supports the proposal to create a Po-
scale national service could sink one o:
dismissed if necessary. But generally this
lice Corps of young adults, this program
Clinton's best ideas.
isn't necessary: Over 85 percent of those
entails a four-year commitment, and pen-
who began the program last year com-
sion money would be deducted from the
ted it.
paychecks of participants. The Police
Still, City Year has had the luxury of
Corps would largely be training future po-
eing able to hand-pick its participants
licemen, as opposed to allowing citizens to
from a large pool of applicants. True, all
serve for a year or two before moving on.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
PUBLIC LIVES
By Joe Klein
Copping a Domestic Agenda
T
wo days after he was elected president of the United
has passed Congress, with sponsors ranging from liberal
States, Bill Clinton told Al From-immoderate leader
Barney Frank of Massachusetts to California Neanderthal
of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council-that he
Robert Dornan (as well as a national roster of police chiefs
would have an important transition job: New Ideas. From
and the support of the Fraternal Order of Police)-but it died
wasn't quite sure what that meant. As it happened, it meant
with the 1991 crime bill, when George Bush threatened a
domestic policy. All of it (except for health care and the
veto. troduced, it could brèeze through the legislature
economy). And the top priority would be national service.
by spring; the first 3,000 to 5,000 new officers could be on the
This has become a recurring theme: the congressional lead-
streets by winter. But far more important than its political
ers who've met with Clinton have been surprised by how
viability, the Police Corps is a carefully thought-out idea,
serious he is about an issue routinely considered peripheral,
the product of 10 years of negotiation by Adam Walinsky, a
at best, within the Beltway. They shouldn't be. Throughout
former aide to Robert Kennedy who has made it his personal
the campaign, Clinton's most reliable applause lines came
crusade. Along the way, Walinsky has had to convince chiefs
when he'd describe his proposed college-loan program-
and unions, and answer hard questions, like-how can you
loans available to all, repaid as a percentage of income over
expect a college kid to cope with urban guerrilla warfare?
time or, "better yet," he
In response, he developed
would inevitably say, with
a program far more rigor-
two years' service in a "Do-
ous than Clinton's national-
mestic Peace Corps
We
service model. Each recruit
could educate a generation
would have to spend two full
of Americans and help solve
summers in a Police Corps
our people problems here at
boot camp (more training
home. It would be the best
than most police officers cur-
money we ever spent."
rently receive). Each would
But only if it's spent right.
then serve four-years.on a
inton himself raised some
local force (as opposed to
the potential pitfalls in
Clinton's two-year stint) and
his first press conference af-
receive full pay, minus pen-
ter the election: "How much
sion (a necessary concession
money should everybody be
to the unions). The original,
able to borrow a year? What
$1 billion bill had training
contributions should peo-
and scholarships ($10,000
ple's families be expected to
per year) paid by the federal
ROBERT MAASS FOR NEWSWEEK
make, if any? How are
government and salaries by
you going to keep the col-
Could her next partner be a physicist? On patrol in New York
the local communities, but
leges from using it as an
that can be modified if Clin-
excuse to explode tuitions even more?" To which might be
ton wants to help cities foot the bill. In fact, public safety
added far more serious potential problems on the service
would seem a more compelling "infrastructure" need than
of the equation: One reason national service isn't taken
the porky pothole-filling programs the mayors want.
more seriously in Washington is the power of Bill Clinton's
Over time, Walinsky has been surprised by the ecumeni-
supporters in the public-employee unions, who'll fight to
cal support he's received. Conservatives like it because it
keep the Domestic Peace Corps away from jobs that might be
would add more cops-20 percent more nationally, almost
done by their members-that is, anything remotely useful.
all of whom would go into community policing (the radical
If national service isn't carefully planned-if the unions
"new" idea of having cops actually walk a beat, which seems
aren't forced to compromise-Clinton's grand idea could
to be suppressing crime in cities like New York and Hous-
turn out to be 250,000 college graduates fetching coffee, a
ton); liberals like it because college graduates might leaven
potential source of corruption and bureaucratic bloat Re-
the macho Blue Culture that seems to breed brutality.
publicans would happily use to bludgeon him in 1996.
Students seem enthusiastic-a poll conducted in Boston by
The problems are daunting, but the idea-financial aid
the Justice Department found 24 percent at a private college
reciprocated by service, bureaucracy reinvigorated by al-
and 40 percent at a state school ready to sign up. And Bill
truism-is too important to let slip. And there is a way
Clinton likes it, too: "He was present at the creation,"
Clinton can move immediately to demonstrate his commit-
Walinsky says, "a founding member of my board." It's possi-
ment while buying time for his more ambitious plans: ask
blè that Walinsky's scholarship-for-service swap was the
Congress to pass the Police Corps, which could put 100,000
seed from which Clinton's grander Domestic Peace Corps
llege-educated police officers on the streets by 1997.
grew. It's the logical place to start now, as the new president
The Police Corps has a multitude of social and spiritual
embarks on his most ambitious goal-to rebuild a national
rtues, and one enormous political advantage: it already
sense of community, responsibility and public altruism.
NEWSWEEK DECEMBER 7. 1992 29
Washington Post, Tuesday, nov17, 1992, page A 17
William Byron and Thomas Ehrlich
Don't Call It Community Service
Unintentionally, judges across this
laws. Since then, courts around the
was sworn in and the Commission on
Unfortunately, a federal sentencing
land have been giving community ser-
country, both federal and state, en-
National and Community Service set
statute and many state sentencing
vice a bad name. In exchange for
larged the application of the so-called
out to provide grant support to stimu-
statutes have incorporated the phrase
venality and violations of both law and
"community service" penalty to a
late grass-roots action in the volun-
"community service." Legislative ac-
public trust, white-collar criminals are
wide trange of criminal convictions
tary-service sector of America. CNCS
tion will therefore be required sto.
often sentenced to punitive doses of
that include assault, petty theft, bur
grants (totaling $73 million in the
change that language. Until that hap-
community service" in lieu of spend-
glary, drug offenses, fraud, drunk
fiscal year just ended) went to states,
ing time in jail. This sentencing cate-
pens, it will be helpful if the Judicial
driving and many white-collar crimes.
Indian tribes, schools, colleges, urban
gory needs a change of name. We
Some recent and notable applica-
neighborhoods and rural communities
Conference of the United States, the
suggest that it be called "compensato-
tions of this sentencing category:
across the country. *Serve America"
administrative arm of the :federal
ry service," a term that speaks direct-
Pete Rose got a thousand hours of
is the recently adopted CNCS slogan.
courts, in tandem with the organiza-
ly to the offender's obligation to rear-
Like music, service can function as
tions that represent state courts, un-
range the "weights" ("pensa" in the
community service as a gym instruc-
a language of understanding and-com-
dertake the :task of advising their
Latin) on the scales of justice.
tor in five schools and a boys and girls
munity-building between and among
constituents of the inappropriateness
The counterweight of "compensa-
club as part of his sentence for federal
separated citizens. Persons from op-
of the phrase.
tory" service would balance the scales
tax evasion. Michael Milken will per-
posite ends of the social spectrum can
not justice once again, making things
form three years of community ser-
As long as the misapplied label has
learn to speak to one another through
right between the lawbreaker and the
vice for securities fraud, Leona
a place in the sentencing semantics of
the common language of voluntary
Helmsley 750 hours for tax fraud and
our courts, society risks alienating, or
society the broken law was there to
service.
protect.
Robert Tappan Morris, the computer
at least losing the attention of, count-
Those summoned to stand before
"Community" service, on the other
hacker, 400 hours for introducing a
less law-abiding citizens who have yet
the bar of justice to answer for their
virus into a nationwide computer net-
to answer the call to genuine commu-
hand, is every citizen's duty. It is the
crimes are called to make restitution,
external evidence of an inner ethic of
work.
nity service.
to repay society for damages done.
tivic responsibility. Community ser-
The Congress of the United States,
When compelled by the courts to
vice is an obligation to be met, not a
announcing its intent to "enhance"
William Byron is past president of
work in the community, they are
punishment to be avoided.
community service and "renew the
the Catholic University of America;
quite literally rendering "compensato-
The courts apparently misappropri-
ethic of civil responsibility in the
ry" service. It should be labeled ac-
Thomas Ehrlich is president of
ated the community-service label in
United States," passed Public Law
cordingly. To call it "community" ser-
Indiana University. Both serve on
1966, when Alameda County munici-
101-610-The National and Commu-
vice is to perpetuate long-standing
the Board of Directors of the
pal court judges began imposing ser-
nity Service Act of 1990. One year
vocabulary confusion in the criminal
Commission on National and
vice sentences on violators of traffic
ago the 21-member board of directors
justice system.
Community Service.