President Barack Obama has been unable to get Congress to approve free access to the nation's community colleges. Now he's trying to boost state and local programs that do just that.
Obama is teaming up with Jill Biden, the wife of the vice president, on Thursday for a visit to Macomb County Community College in Michigan. They plan to announce an independent board that will highlight existing programs providing free community college. The board will be led by Biden, who is a community college English teacher.
Earlier this year, Obama announced a $60 billion proposal to make two years of community college free nationally. That idea has failed to gain traction in the Republican controlled Congress.