But the political theater that played out in the House chamber during
and after the president’s State-of-the Union spoke louder about the
country’s current politics: they’re polarized to the point of absurdity.
The president proposed “quality child care” for all. Democrats rose
en masse, clapping and whooping. Republicans sat en masse, looking
almost as solemn as a solemn John Lewis.
Obama called for a week of paid sick leave for every American worker. Democrats rose, Republicans sat.
Equal pay for women for equal work, the President suggested: “It’s 2015, it’s time.”
Maybe not, not in Washington’s age of virulent political
polarization. Democrats rose, clapping and whooping still more.
Republicans sat.
Obama asked that Congress send him a bill that would “lower the cost
of community college to zero.” Again, Democrats rose, Republicans sat.
Obama gave thanks to the brave men and women who have served in America’s war and urged employers to hire vets.
At last, Democrats and Republicans all rose, all clapped and whooped lustily.
-- Dan Boylan, Midweek, January 28, 2015
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Friday, January 09, 2015
free community college?
(Reuters) - President Barack Obama wants to make two years of community college free and universally available, a proposal he said on Thursday he would flesh out in his State of the Union speech later this month.
White House officials acknowledged the plan would come with a significant price tag but declined to disclose projected costs, saying those details would come in Obama's budget on Feb. 2.
"Put simply, what I'd like to do is to see the first two years of community college free for everybody's who is willing to work for it," Obama said in a video message released by the White House.
The idea would require the Republican-controlled Congress to pass legislation so that the federal government could pay for 75 percent of tuition, with participating state governments having to pick up the rest of the tab.
"With no details or information on the cost, this seems more like a talking point than a plan," said Cory Fritz, spokesman for Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in the House of Representatives.
If all states signed on to Obama's plan, an estimated 9 million students could benefit. A full-time community college student could save an average of $3,800 in tuition a year.
Under the proposal, students who attend at least half-time, maintain a 2.5 grade point average while in college, and make steady progress toward completing their programs would have their tuition eliminated.
White House officials acknowledged the plan would come with a significant price tag but declined to disclose projected costs, saying those details would come in Obama's budget on Feb. 2.
"Put simply, what I'd like to do is to see the first two years of community college free for everybody's who is willing to work for it," Obama said in a video message released by the White House.
The idea would require the Republican-controlled Congress to pass legislation so that the federal government could pay for 75 percent of tuition, with participating state governments having to pick up the rest of the tab.
"With no details or information on the cost, this seems more like a talking point than a plan," said Cory Fritz, spokesman for Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in the House of Representatives.
If all states signed on to Obama's plan, an estimated 9 million students could benefit. A full-time community college student could save an average of $3,800 in tuition a year.
Under the proposal, students who attend at least half-time, maintain a 2.5 grade point average while in college, and make steady progress toward completing their programs would have their tuition eliminated.
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