The Sconi

Sen. Tammy Baldwin raised some eyebrows after posting a tweet about taxing the rich to allow community and technical college to be more affordable. 

According to a press release from the senator's office, Baldwin reintroduced legislation to make two years of college tuition-free in April under the name of America’s College Promise Act. The act would establish a partnership between federal and state governments, with every dollar invested by the state being matched with three federal dollars. It would allow students to attend two years of community or technical college for free, as well as providing “significant” aid for two years at historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) and minority-serving institutions (MSI).

“If we make the super-wealthy pay their fair share of taxes, we can make community or technical college more affordable," Baldwin said in the Oct. 4 tweet. "My plan would make two years tuition-free so that more Wisconsinites can be trained for the good-paying jobs we’re creating. Let’s move #BuildBackBetter forward.” 

According to Propublica, between 2014 and 2018, the 25 wealthiest Americans paid a total of $13.6 billion in federal income tax, while their wealth grew collectively by $401 billion, according to Forbes and the IRS. 

The NHJournal reports that Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan includes $109 billion to put toward making community college tuition “free.” Only 25.7% of community college students get a degree or certificate within six years of enrollment, according to data from The Institute for College Access and Success.

“Everyone should have the opportunity to gain the education and skills they need to succeed without drowning in student debt," Baldwin said, told by the press release. "Unfortunately, right now college costs and student loan debt are holding people back and creating a drag on economic growth for our country."