Q: What would you do to lower or stabilize the cost of tuition at Penn State?

Sen. Jake Corman (R-Bellefonte):

A: "Healthcare costs are driving all budgets from the federal government, state government, school districts, universities and the private sector. We cannot sustain yearly increases in healthcare in the 10- to 20-percent range. The biggest line item in Penn State's budget is employee salaries and benefits, and when healthcare costs are soaring, tuition has to be increased to pay for it. We must reduce the cost of healthcare with long-term strategies such as wellness programs, tort reform, patient safety initiatives, advances in medical technology and portable medical records."

Jon Eich (D):

A: "I'm concerned about what my opponent has been unable to do as far as funding for Penn State. Tuition at Penn State is highest among 67 flagship public institutions in the nation. Penn State gets the least amount of state support among all in-state intuitions, and it also gets the least among of support per student among all state-related institutions. Education is the way that you create a labor force, and I don't know why education has not been valued in Pennsylvania. I would take an economic development standpoint."

Tom Martin (L):

A: "The easy answer is to promise more free money from Harrisburg -- just as soon as I can get my nose into the feeding trough with the rest of the politicians. I look at it differently; wherever government is subsidizing an activity, I want to restructure that to remove the middleman, that is Harrisburg/Washington. I propose to allow dollar-for-dollar tax credit to the parents, students, foundations and companies that are paying for education. If your parents are paying $12,000-plus in tuition, housing and books, then they get 12 grand off of their state taxes, or that could be applied to federal taxes -- if they have surplus they can keep it or roll it forward."

Robert J. Cash (I):

A: "I believe that we need to restructure the way we "support" higher education in Pa. by directing state funds to the students (by increased grants and low interest loans for in-state education), rather than directing funds to the various state institutions. This will create a system of competition between our colleges and universities for students (as opposed to them competing for political favor in Harrisburg), and thereby empower the students (rather than politicians) so the individual students can choose the best educational value. Rather than having students forced to follow arbitrary state funding and compete for the best educational value, the students would become the means of the state funding, which would elevate their value to the colleges and universities throughout Pa."

Q: What will you do to improve the job market in Pennsylvania for the benefit of graduating Penn State students?

Gov. Ed Rendell (D):

A: "We have tried to transform the state. We now have the highest number of jobs at any time in our commonwealth's history. We are gaining manufacturing jobs, but we have to make sure that our progress is across the board. We're created Keystone Innovation Zones, which are areas where communities linked to higher education can apply for no-tax zones to benefit entrepreneurs. State College is one such area, and it will provide entrepreneurs with grant money and tax advantages."

Lynn Swann (R):

A: "We have rolled out a business plan for a billion-dollar tax cut. The commonwealth looked at it and said it was doable. It would create additional revenue of 6.6 percent in the state, and I believe that's why I've seen the endorsements of small businesses. I feel very comfortable with the message that I have for moving Pennsylvania forward. Forty percent of college graduates will leave Pennsylvania. The young educated minds we are creating, we want them to stay here because they are the ones that are going to impact the future."

Q: What do you hope to accomplish as your first act in office?

Bob Casey (D):

A: "I'm committed to dismantling the culture of corruption in Washington. I will work to expose and explode the unsavory connections between K Street lobbying firms and how legislation is enacted or defeated. I will also work to make sure members of Congress can't hide their actions from the public spotlight."

Rick Santorum (R-Pa.):

A: "Nothing is more important to the people of Pennsylvania than their security, whether that be security from violent threats, both foreign and domestic, security from financial troubles or security from volatile energy markets that impact both. And so nothing will receive more of my attention than the physical security, the economic security and the energy security of the people of Pennsylvania."