Education, research big winners in US budget

In an otherwise austere budget, President Barack Obama last week confirmed his commitment to education and research.

With the US economy still technically a basket case, US President Barack Obama's $US3.8 trillion ($4.3 trillion) 2011 budget lays the foundation for innovation-driven growth with big boosts for education and research. Included in the finely honed budget, is a 31 per cent increase for education driven largely by a plan to increase the real value of the federal government student loan scheme known as Pell Grants faster than inflation. The grants maximum value would increase each year by the rate of inflation plus 1 percentage point, bringing it from $US5550 ($6300) in 2010 to $5710 ($6500) in...