WARREN (WKZO-AM) — President Obama pushed his proposal for two free years of community college and announced $175 million in apprenticeship grants during his visit to Macomb Community College in Warren.
Obama is calling the overall proposal the American College Promise. It’s not as generous as the Kalamazoo Promise, but it has the same objective — to make it easier for kids from low income families to get the education they need to become productive workers, or continue to be productive workers.
“Education has always been the ‘secret sauce,’ the secret to America’s success,” Obama said Wednesday.
It would be funded by closing corporate tax loopholes. Obama told the crowd that aspect of the plan, previously, has proven to be an obstacle.
“Unfortunately, so far at least, I have gotten some resistance from members of Congress,” Obama said.
Students would be eligible if they get the grades in high school, maintain at least a half-time schedule and a 2.5 grade-point average and continue progress toward a degree.
– John McNeill
