Mayor Pete Buttigieg (via Instagram) Mayor Pete Buttigieg has released his plan to make college education more affordable. It would tie the price of attending college to a family’s income. Under Mayor Pete’s proposal, public colleges would be free for students whose families earn less than $100,000 per year. Former Vice President Joe Biden has suggested something similar versus the plans of Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders who promise free college for everyone across the board. A sliding scale would come into play for those families whose income lands between $100,000 to $150,000. Families making more than $150,000 would pay full tuition. In his new economic agenda, Buttigieg writes, “Our government can, and should, play a role in setting a level playing field that gives all Americans a chance to succeed.” He adds that “government does need to be a vigorous presence in ensuring that our economy actually works for all.” Buttigieg has previously stated he favors a sliding scale approach because, “I think if you’re a child of a billionaire you can take care of yourself, and you ought to be able to pay some tuition.” Buttigieg’s plan would be financed by raising taxes on the top 1 percent of Americans.
