Biden, Democrats may limit free college, childcare to shrink reconciliation bill -sources

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

(Reuters) -The White House and U.S. Democrats are weighing attaching or strengthening income caps to a number of key agenda items, including electric vehicle rebates and free community college, to shrink the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill and pacify spending hawks, according to two officials familiar with the discussions.

Discussions about these income limits, known as means tests in Washington lingo, come as Democrats struggle to agree on the size of the sprawling social safety net and climate change package, a signature piece of President Joe Biden's agenda.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki declined to comment on whether the administration would agree to income caps on things like free community college, but did note that means tests are common and that the president has supported placing income restrictions on government programs.

"Every family is not eligible for the child tax credit in this country. Every person is not eligible for the earned income tax credit," Psaki noted.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-house-democrats-look-means-173258899.html

[LakeArenal]

1. That would suck. Though I don't need either.

[dsc]

2. To give one reason why this is such a bad idea

if a kid gets thrown out by their parents then they will be denied the ability to go to community college for free due to their parent's income.

[helpisontheway]

3. Right and some parents will not help their kids with college..nt

[Iris]

4. But of course they are. Cowards.

[Xolodno]

5. "Means Tests" are usually applied uniformly across the nation...

...but that does not make it equitable. Community College and income in So Cal are vastly different from West Virginia. Thinking they are doing this for another deal. A student in WV will get free college, in So Cal, tuition is cheaper....but not paid for.

Sure, they can move. Easier said than done.

[DET]

6. Makes Sense

Means testing is a reasonable compromise to help pass this bill. I can’t see why progressive Democrats would be opposed to it. Like a previous poster, however, I do think that means testing formulas should be adjusted to accommodate vastly different costs of living in different parts of the country.