Late last night President Obama released a short video announcing "the first two years of community college free for everybody who is willing to work for it." Huh?
More from the Associated Press:
Obama planned to formally announce the plan Friday at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tennessee. He gave a preview in a videotaped message shot aboard Air Force One and posted on Facebook.
"It's not just for kids," Obama said. "We also have to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to constantly train themselves for better jobs, better wages, better benefits."
Obama provided few specifics, and White House and Education Department officials on a conference call with reporters Thursday evening said the funding details would come out later with the president's budget.
The White House did say that if all states participated, that nine million students could benefit — saving on average $3,800 in tuition per year for a full-time student. That means the program could cost in the billions of dollars. In a Republican-led Congress, the proposal likely faces a tough legislative fight to be passed.
So what does "free" mean? Free means taxpayers footing the bill for millions of students at $3800 per year.
The White House won't discuss the cost of Obama's free community college plan, but 9 million students x $3,800 tuition = $34.2 billion.
— Gregory Korte (@gregorykorte) January 9, 2015If you think college is expensive, wait until it's "free" #FreeCommunityCollege pic.twitter.com/RgTbzZBj8e
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) January 9, 2015Considering all of President Obama's budgets have been shot down over the past six years by Republicans and Democrats, there's no doubt this will go nowhere. However, votes against it will certainly be used to accuse Republicans of being anti-education.
