Biden in Philly to talk community college

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife visited the Community College of Philadelphia today to talk about their hope that — one day — all Americans will have access to a free community college education. 

Vice-President Biden says community colleges offer the higher education necessary today to prepare people for good jobs and a place in the middle class.

“When the middle class does well, the wealthy do very well and the poor have a way up.  So we have to focus.  This is the path, this is the path to the middle class,” he said.

Biden’s Wife Jill teaches at a community college outside Washington DC.  She says education is the way to improve your life.

“That’s what community colleges are all about, they open the doors for so many Americans to enter the middle class to create a better life for themselves and their families,” she said.

The Obama Administration is making $100 million available to fund community college scholarships, and Vice President Biden says closing one tax loophole could fund an associates degree for millions of Americans.

The scholarships for community college are a more modest proposal than what’s suggested by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.  His presidential campaign promises to make public colleges and universities tuition free.  Hillary Clinton, has questioned how Sanders could pay for such a big expense.  Clinton’s plan promises that students should not have to take out loans to pay for “tuition, books, or fees to attend a four-year public college in their state.”

Before the event at Community College of Philadelphia, Vice President Biden campaigned on behalf of U.S. Senate candidate Katie McGinty.