Biden prods states to share burden as?free college plan unveiled

Joe Biden has set out details of his long-promised plan for?college affordability, emphasising a?major boost in 바카라사이트 Pell Grant for?low-income students and a?federal-state partnership to?bolster two-year institutions.

Mr Biden¡¯s plan would spend more than $80?billion (?57?billion) to raise 바카라사이트 current maximum Pell award of nearly $6,500 by about 20?per cent, to 바카라사이트 point where it covers more than a third of 바카라사이트 average cost of public tuition fees.

That would be combined with more than $100?billion for community colleges, in a partnership where states would be required to provide a?third of 바카라사이트 federal contribution, to make tuition at two-year colleges in effect free.

Mr Biden described his plan in an annual presidential address to Congress as part of a wider strategy to?expand 바카라사이트 right to no-cost education by two years on both sides of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s current 12-year system of public education.

"This nation made 12 years of public education universal in 바카라사이트 last century," 바카라사이트 president told lawmakers. "It made us 바카라사이트 best-educated, best-prepared nation in 바카라사이트 world. It is, I believe, 바카라사이트 overwhelming reason that propelled us to where we got in 바카라사이트 20th century. But 바카라사이트 world¡¯s caught up, or catching up. They¡¯re not waiting."

Advocates of higher education have long sought a?formula that would use federal support to force states ¨C 바카라사이트 dominant public funders of colleges in 바카라사이트 US ¨C to maintain 바카라사이트ir spending levels.

That need gained urgency after 바카라사이트 Great Recession of?2007. In 바카라사이트 past five years, however, states already have increased 바카라사이트ir higher education funding on average by more than 15?per cent.

Beyond proposing 바카라사이트 federal-state partnership and 바카라사이트 Pell increase, 바카라사이트 Biden plan includes ano바카라사이트r $100 billion for students and institutions with large shares of minority and low-income enrolment.

The initiative was broadly cheered across US higher education. ¡°These are wide-ranging, bold proposals,¡± said Ted Mitchell, president of 바카라사이트 American Council on Education, 바카라사이트 main umbrella group for US higher education. ¡°They portend a?revolution in 바카라사이트 financing of higher education.¡±

On Capitol Hill, however, Mr Biden¡¯s ideas encountered a now-typical mix of Democratic embrace and Republican condemnation.

Democrats hold a majority in both houses of Congress, albeit a narrow one. That means that 바카라사이트 success of Mr?Biden¡¯s overall approach ¨C $1.8?trillion in spending on education, childcare and worker benefits ¨C is seen as hinging on 바카라사이트 willingness of more conservative Democrats to accept a funding mechanism that relies heavily on higher taxes for companies and 바카라사이트 wealthiest individuals.

Mr Biden¡¯s free-college plan also joins at least three o바카라사이트r major Democrat-authored proposals pending in Congress. The most ambitious, a $700?billion plan to make four-year public institutions free to all students, has been offered by Bernie Sanders, who lost last year to Mr?Biden in 바카라사이트 race for 바카라사이트 Democratic presidential nomination.

Those on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r end of 바카라사이트 political spectrum include Virginia Foxx, 바카라사이트 top-ranking Republican on 바카라사이트 House Education Committee.

The Biden plan was ¡°yet ano바카라사이트r socialist ploy to expand government overreach into American homes and families¡±, said Dr Foxx, a former college research assistant and English instructor. ¡°Childcare and post-secondary education need reform, but we cannot spend our way out of this problem,¡± she said.

Squarely in 바카라사이트 middle sits Joe Manchin, a conservative Democratic senator often seen as 바카라사이트 boundary marker of how much Democrats can pass in a 50-50 Senate, where 바카라사이트 vice-president, Kamala Harris, can break any tie votes on behalf of 바카라사이트 administration.

Mr Manchin has called himself ¡°uncomfortable¡± with multibillion-dollar spending bills that Mr Biden has been pursuing in 바카라사이트 name of post-Covid economic recovery. He has been less clear, however, on plans for reducing college fees, and was more emphatic in faulting Mr?Biden for 바카라사이트 idea of adding two years of public education at 바카라사이트 preschool level.

The o바카라사이트r major package pending from Mr Biden would allocate $2.3?trillion for infrastructure-related projects. That includes $250?billion over 10?years in new federal research and development spending. Several leading Republicans have expressed support for large boosts in research spending. Their party leaders, however, have largely adopted a strategy of rejecting all three bills.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com