Biden administration halts student loan relief applications after Texas ruling
CBSNov 19, 2022
The Facts
Pres. Biden’s executive action canceling billions in student loan debt was put on hold Thursday after a ruling by Judge Mark Pittman of the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
The case in question was brought by the conservative Job Creators Network Foundation on behalf of two federal student loan borrowers. One doesn’t qualify since their loans are held by a commercial lender, and the second qualifies but believes he should receive more relief based on his income.
The Spin
Right narrative
The Biden admin. thought it could get away with getting this case dismissed on standing, like previous challenges to the plan. But once the judge ruled the plaintiffs had standing, the president’s student debt handout didn’t stand a chance. The defense was built on the cynical use of a “national emergency” to circumvent the Constitution. Even if it takes a SCOTUS ruling, this illegal plan will ultimately go down in flames.
Left narrative
The challengers to Biden’s plan — wealthy companies and individuals, some who even serve in Congress — are as hypocritical as they come considering how much government debt relief they received via the Paycheck Protection Program. Now they’re throwing as many lawsuits as they can at the admin., so even if they can’t hand Biden a loss, they can delay his program long enough that it will feel like a defeat.