While Republicans controlled both the White House and Congress, federal funding for Pell Grants and Direct Student Loans remained flat, while federal work study funds and Byrd Honors Scholarships declined.

The average debt among college graduates exceeds $19,000. One-fourth of all students borrow $25,000 or more. These statistics were last published by the U.S. Department of Education in 2004, so they understate current student debt.

Tuition and fees at a public four-year college have increased from $3,500 to nearly $6,200 since Bush took office—an increase of 46 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars. Tuition at private colleges also became more expensive, increasing on average from $16,000 in 2000-01 to $23,700 in 2007-08.

Drilling for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would, at most, lower the cost of a barrel of crude oil by 50 cents in 2025, a drop in the bucket compared to the $90 increase in the price of a barrel of oil during Bush's presidency. Suspending the 18-cent federal gasoline tax over the summer would, at most, cover the cost of a half-tank of gas.

In December 2007, the day after Bush signed Democratic legislation which modestly increases fuel efficiency standards, the administration blocked laws enacted in 18 states that would improve auto efficiency rules for a majority of Americans.

Exxon Mobil reported a profit of $41 billion for 2007, the highest profit ever reported by an American corporation. Profits of the five biggest international oil companies have tripled since 2002.

Gas prices have become a "financial hardship," 71 percent of respondents said in a recent poll, and 78 percent believe the price increases will be permanent. Meanwhile, 83 percent think "oil companies as a whole are making too much profit."

By 2007, subprime loans accounted for only 14 percent of all outstanding mortgages but fully 64 percent of all mortgage foreclosures

While Republicans controlled both the White House and Congress, federal funding for Pell Grants and Direct Student Loans remained flat, while federal work study funds and Byrd Honors Scholarships declined.

The average debt among college graduates exceeds $19,000. One-fourth of all students borrow $25,000 or more. These statistics were last published by the U.S. Department of Education in 2004, so they understate current student debt.

Tuition and fees at a public four-year college have increased from $3,500 to nearly $6,200 since Bush took office—an increase of 46 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars. Tuition at private colleges also became more expensive, increasing on average from $16,000 in 2000-01 to $23,700 in 2007-08.

Drilling for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would, at most, lower the cost of a barrel of crude oil by 50 cents in 2025, a drop in the bucket compared to the $90 increase in the price of a barrel of oil during Bush's presidency. Suspending the 18-cent federal gasoline tax over the summer would, at most, cover the cost of a half-tank of gas.

In December 2007, the day after Bush signed Democratic legislation which modestly increases fuel efficiency standards, the administration blocked laws enacted in 18 states that would improve auto efficiency rules for a majority of Americans.

Exxon Mobil reported a profit of $41 billion for 2007, the highest profit ever reported by an American corporation. Profits of the five biggest international oil companies have tripled since 2002.

Gas prices have become a "financial hardship," 71 percent of respondents said in a recent poll, and 78 percent believe the price increases will be permanent. Meanwhile, 83 percent think "oil companies as a whole are making too much profit."

By 2007, subprime loans accounted for only 14 percent of all outstanding mortgages but fully 64 percent of all mortgage foreclosures