

However, the idea and its $60 billion federal price tag over 10 years would have to make the grade with a Republican Congress that is showing little appetite for big new spending programs. Obama, who plans to push the issue in his Jan. 20 State of the Union address, argued that providing educational opportunity and creating a more skilled U.S. workforce shouldn't be a partisan issue.


The White House estimated that 9 million students could eventually participate and save an average of $3,800 in tuition per year if they attend full time. Students would qualify if they attend at least halftime, maintain a 2.5 grade point average and make progress toward completing a degree or certificate program. Participating schools would have to meet certain academic requirements.

A spokesman with the Montana University System, which oversees community colleges, said commissioners have not had time to review the president's proposal.

"Our experience is that access to education cuts across party lines," said Kevin McRae, MUS deputy commissioner for communication and human resources. "It's how you get there that is the interesting part of the process."

He said, in general, the issue of access to education enjoys bipartisan support.

He noted that tuition at Montana's community colleges has been frozen for eight years and that the department was working with the state Legislature to continue that practice for another two years.

"Free education is great, but we have to learn more as to who is paying for the free education," McRae said, noting money for faculty and staff salaries has to come from somewhere.

"We don't know by the president's plan if the federal government will pick up the cost of what our students are paying in tuition," McRae said, adding "Access for all is a laudible goal, but somebody has to pay for it."

Tyler Trevor, MUS deputy commissioner for planning and analysis, said there are about 10,000 students in the community college system in Montana. Of those, 6,000 are considered full time, meaning they take 12 or more college credits. Great Falls College has about 1,800 full-time and part-time students. In 2014, about $4 million of the college's $11.3 million operating budget came from student tuition, he said.

At North Lake College, part of the Dallas County Community College system, student Courtney Banks said such a program would help her and also allow others to enroll in classes.

"Other people, other young adults would be willing to get into school because it wouldn't be so far out of reach," she said. She added she's still trying to pay back loans from a previous school. "It costs a lot of money," she said.

The White House said the federal government would pick up 75 percent of the cost and the final quarter would come from states that opt into the program — a cost of $20 billion over 10 years. Spokesman Eric Schultz said Obama will propose new programs to pay for the federal portion in his budget next month.


"If a state with Republican leadership is doing this and a city with Democratic leadership is doing this, how about we all do it," Obama said.

Tribune Staff Writer Phil Drake contributed to this Associated Press story.

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