Welcome to ThinkProgress’ live coverage of the second presidential debate, hosted by Hofstra University, in Hempstead, New York.
We’ll fact-check both candidates’ claims in real time and offer a wide range of multimedia content. Tonight’s debate is moderated by Candy Crowley, CNN’s Chief Political Correspondent.
9:06 pm
Ryan plan would cut Pell Grants for 1 million students
The first question is about how to make it easier for kids to go to college. Mitt Romney’s running mate, Paul Ryan, proposed a budget that cuts nondefense discretionary appropriations (which includes funding for Pell Grants) to $474 billion next year, $38 billion below the CBO’s baseline. If Ryan’s cuts are apportioned equally and across the board, it would cut discretionary funding for the Pell Grant program by more than $15 billion total, or 42 percent, next year alone, eliminating Pell Grants for 1 million students and reducing what’s left by more than an average of $1,500 for each Pell Grant recipient:
