WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden vetoed on Wednesday legislation sponsored by the GOP that attempted to block his plan to provide relief to people who took out federal student loan.
“The Republican-led Congress led an effort to block my Administration’s plan of providing up to $20,000 student debt relief for working and middle class Americans. I will not back down from helping hardworking people. That’s why, Biden tweeted along with the video he used to explain his decision.
Biden said that Republicans who support the measure are hypocrites because they received loans for small businesses during Covid-19 pandemic.
Biden stated in a White House message that “the demand for this relief was undeniable.” In less than four week, during the time when the application for student debt relief was open, 26 million people either applied or were automatically eligible for the relief. If it weren’t for the meritless lawsuits filed by opponents to this program, at least 16 million of these borrowers would have already received debt relief.
Last week, the Senate voted largely along partisan lines in favor of this legislation. The bill passed with a 52-46 vote, with some moderate senators voting along with Republicans, including Democrats Joe Manchin from West Virginia, Jon Tester from Montana, and Independent Kyrsten Sinesma of Arizona.
The legislation was passed by a simple majority in the Senate, and sent to Biden. The House also passed the measure by a 218-203 vote in May. This was largely along party line, and two Democrats, Jared Golden from Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez from Washington, joined Republicans.
The resolution would have repealed the program of the administration to annul up to $10,000 worth of loans to borrowers who fall below certain income levels, and up to $20,000. for those who receive Pell Grants. The resolution would also have ended the pause in loan payments and interest accrual during the pandemic era.
The conservative majority of the Supreme Court is likely to rule on Biden’s Debt Relief Plan in two cases this month. Since the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary hold in October, the program has been blocked. The Circuit Court of Appeals placed a temporary stop on the program in October.
