Dems abandon Jill Biden’s free community college push

What she's saying: "One year ago, I told this group that Joe was going to fight for community colleges," Biden said during the Community College National Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C.

• "But Joe has also had to make compromises. Congress hasn't passed the Build Back Better agenda — yet. And free community college is no longer a part of that," she added.
• "We knew this wouldn’t be easy — Joe has always said that. Still, like you, I was disappointed. Because, like you, these aren’t just bills or budgets to me. We know what they mean for real people. For our students."

The big picture: Opposition to the spending package from Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) has forced Democrats to winnow out certain provisions to ease spending concerns and salvage the bill, which was last estimated at $1.75 trillion.

• The House passed the bill in November, and it has since been stalled in the Senate.

• Tuition costs have ballooned at both four- and two-year institutions over the last two decades, though obtaining a degree from a community college still remains far less expensive than receiving one from a public or private college or university, according to data from the Department of Education.
• Community colleges typically offer working-class students, immigrants and students of color a more affordable, flexible path to middle-class careers, Axios' Russell Contreras reports.

Go deeper: College enrollment plummets — again