Biden discusses $1.9T top line for economic package and tells Dems free community college is out

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/19/politics/biden-house-democrats-tuition-free-community-college/index.html

(CNN)President Joe Biden informed House progressives Tuesday afternoon that the final bill to expand the social safety net is expected to drop tuition-free community college, a major White House priority, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

And the President discussed a $1.75 to $1.9 trillion price tag for the sweeping spending package, according to a person familiar with the talks. While the number is not finalized, it is far closer to West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin's $1.5 trillion top line than progressives' number, which was $3.5 trillion.

Moreover, he indicated that the child tax credit -- a key Democratic priority -- would likely be extended for one additional year, much shorter than what many in their party wanted, one of the sources said. The child tax credit will also likely be means tested, keeping with what Manchin had wanted.

Biden also indicated to the group that they would reduce the proposed funding for so-called homecare for the elderly and disabled -- down to less than $250 billion, sources said. Democrats had wanted to keep the funding at $400 billion.

[lapfog_1]

1. I'm a moderate... really

walk away and pass nothing. Wait to see what happens in 2022.

Some deals just aren't worth it.

[doc03]

5. Do you really think that is a good idea? IMO if this

don't get passed it will be a blood bath next year.

[lapfog_1]

15. how well will the Mid-terms go if we allow Manchin

to gut this to the point where there isn't any program for free college, the child tax credit is neutered, the climate change part is almost gone, the elder care is gone...

Remember that this is $1.9T OVER 10 fucking years... or 190B a year.

It amounts to spending $48 a month per person.

I pay close to $4000 a month in federal taxes... I am happy to do so. But just once I would like the money I send in to be spent on some things that will do some good. Let's TRY a little socialism. Let's TRY to fucking save the planet from more global warming. After 10 years, if nobody likes it, we can always sunset the programs.

[themaguffin]

17. a lot better than if nothing is passed. Right now, most don't even know what's in it. If passed,

Democrats can sell what is passed, not what didn't make the cut.

[fescuerescue]

7. Everything will be harder in 2022

Mid term elections for a 1st term President rarely go well.

And they never have gone well when times are tough.

It's now or never.

[GoodRaisin]

25. Pass what we can now and remind people we need

more democrats in 2022 to get the other stuff. Not passing these bills would be devastating to 2022 mid term elections. So finish this negotiation, pass these bills and get on with voting rights legislation which is our lifeline.

[berni_mccoy]

2. Endless corporate welfare, tax cuts for the wealthiest, and trillions for the war machine

Pennies for the poor and working class.

Thank you sir, may I have another?

[Efilroft Sul]

13. I agree. This is lousy for working families.

And so are the Democrats who are subverting Build Back Better. They are lousy people.

[SoonerPride]

14. Until and or unless we get more progressive Dems elected, this is what we get

Take what you can.

1/2 a pie is better than no pie.

Work like hell to get a Manchin and Sinema proof majority.

[themaguffin]

18. Not going to happen in WV

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

19. This 👆

[Celerity]

22. Half a pie? IF we end up (and its trending that way) at 1.5 trillion for the BBB, that means almost

70% of Biden's two proposals (as the BIF was gutted by almost 80% from $2.6 trillion down to $550 billion) in terms of new spending are shredded out.

$6.1 trillion between the two bills (Biden's own proposal totals), gutted to around $2 trillion.

IF the BBB Act ends up at $1.75 trillion, it is still closing in in a 2/3rds total chopping in toto, courtesy of Coal and Curtsy.

[SunImp]

34. If this happens the general public will rename Biden's plan to Build Back Broker

They saw how much power Republicans had in the Trump era and now with this they'll see how much Democrats have and it'll look mediocre in comparison. We'll need to do a lot of damage control to convince them that we will do better next time and hopefully elect more left leaning people in vital states.

[berni_mccoy]

24. It's not even close to 1/2 a pie. FFS when are people going to wake the fuck up

[Elessar Zappa]

27. Manchin and Sinema won't budge.

Until they’re made irrelevant by being voted out or electing more Democrats, we’re at their mercy. We’ll get a much smaller bill which is better than nothing.

[berni_mccoy]

29. I'm not convinced it's better than nothing

[Elessar Zappa]

30. Well I disagree.

There will be helpful stuff in the bill, just not near as much as we want.

[BeckyDem]

3. Biden's $6 trillion budget proposal would rebuild America's social safety net

Biden’s first budget aims to herald a new era of big government

By Cameron Peters@jcameronpeters

May 30, 2021, 5:30pm EDT
https://www.vox.com/2021/5/30/22460691/biden-budget-6-trillion-hyde-defense-big-government







That is a big hit and the reasons are heartbreaking.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

4. Went to the CC in 1990 for $1k per year same school now $5k per year

Are you kidding me ,you think the value of dollar has stretched that far in 30 years ?


I just worked part time at ice cream shop and had a small track stipend (one quarter $350) and could still afford to live on my own.

You should not have to go into debt to attend community college.

[BlueIdaho]

10. The cost of Community College has raised faster than inflation.

Each year state legislatures cut more funding and place that cost on the shoulders of students. I spent 31 years watching it happen at my college and the colleges in my region. So - it’s not just about the value of the dollar, it’s about the short sightedness of state legislatures.

Having said that - I totally understand what you are saying here.

[MichMan]

12. No one ever wants to address why it has gone up so much.

Why?

If it was entirely due to funding, you would think it would be vastly cheaper in blue states vs red states, but it isn't.

[fescuerescue]

6. Biden saved us $1.5 trillion should be the headline

[Hotler]

8. At a minimum it should be equal to the tax cuts the rich got. nt

[Tony_FLADEM]

9. It would have been better if they proposed increasing the Pell Grant amount

instead of free community college.

People are already familiar with Pell Grants and they can be used for community college and other educational instruction.

That would have been better from a marketing and political standpoint.

[JohnSJ]

11. 20 states currently have free community college tuition. It has gotten to the point where

It is pretty clear Manchin and Sinema are not going to change their positions on this.

It comes down to is something better than nothing?

I suggest it is

You get what you can get under the current situation, and then work to acquire at least a two seat majority in the Senate, and maintain a majority in the House, and then you have the ability to pass the completed package

It will be far worse if nothing passes

[aocommunalpunch]

26. Who is waiting to be the next Machin or Sinema?

What lessons are they learning by being roadblocks with NO consequences? What makes you think this will get any better? Tantrums need to be dealt with. Parent the party SOMEHOW or this will continue.

[Elessar Zappa]

28. We need Manchin and Sinema

so our judges get through. So far, they haven’t obstructed judicial appointments.

[newdayneeded]

33. yet

[JohnSJ]

31. It sure won't get better if we lose the majority in the Senate. "Parent the party"? Really?

When you have a 50-50 Senate, options are limited, until we gain more of a majority

That is the reality

There is no "tantrums need to be dealt with". Those self-identified progressives who refused to vote for the Democratic nominee in 2016 sure demonstrated how well that worked out.

In every critical swing state, the Democratic nominee lost by less than 1%, and in each one of those critical swing states Jill Stein received 1% of the vote. There were other factors, but that alone is all it took to give us the Supreme Court we have today

[aocommunalpunch]

36. Like I said, expect more of the same.

Everybody says we have no options, so the next Manchin or Sinema will keep this going. Honestly, why wouldn’t they? The party is impotent to stop them.

[MichMan]

16. Can anyone explain how free community college would be funded?

In my state, there are 29 Community Colleges with tuition ranging from $3300 to $10,700 with the average being $6250. I'm sure the same situation exists all over the country.

According to a search...
"The least inexpensive state for community college tuition is New Mexico, with an average tuition of $3,352. The most expensive state for community college tuition is Pennsylvania, with an average tuition of $14,501." US Public CC Average is $5,155


Would the Federal government pay whatever the individual schools charge? If Pennsylvania was getting $14k, why wouldn't all the other CC across the US raise it that high?

If instead, the Feds said, we are only going to pay $5000, how the heck would the higher priced ones be able to slash costs to meet that threshold ? Cut salaries and building maintenance ? Cut programs?

[Celerity]

20. The tax increases and other savings. All $3.5 trillion in the bill was fully paid for.

[MichMan]

21. You failed to answer any of my questions

Did you even read what I posted?

[Celerity]

23. Sorry, I misread. I would assume that a fund would be set up to cover the costs of tuition

equal to the current costs for each state.

[JohnSJ]

32. Actually California provides free community college tuition for two years, which seem cheaper

New Mexico which you list as the "least expensive"

Do you have a link for your source?

[MichMan]

35. If colleges get reimbursed at whatever current tuition is, those who kept costs low get punished.

Here is the link

https://www.communitycollegereview.com/avg-tuition-stats/national-data

Free to the student still means the colleges are getting their $$$ reimbursed by someone. Does California reimburse them whatever they charge, or is there a set amount they are told they are getting?

If College "A" charges $8k tuition and College "B" charges $2k tuition, do they each get reimbursed for those amounts, or is College "A" told they are only getting $4k and they have to suck it up and cut costs somehow.