Supreme Court denies request to stop Biden’s student debt relief plan
The Supreme Court has denied a potential restriction to President Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan on Friday amidst lawsuits from six Republican held states.
The now-denied request came from the Pacific Legal Foundation and argues that Biden’s plan is an abuse of executive power.
The request, initially brought forth by Indiana resident and public interest attorney Frank Garrison, states that the debt forgiveness plan violates the U.S. government’s separation of powers and oversteps the executive branch’s power as defined by the Constitution.
“The separation of powers ensures that no department of government can make unilateral decisions, and that laws come from the body that represents the people: Congress,” stated the Pacific Legal Foundation. “Even when Congress does the wrong thing, the lawmaking process ensures that the people’s voices are heard.”
The firm also states Biden’s plan does not hold a high degree of popularity within the country if it were to raise the price of college or raise taxes, citing a study conducted by the Cato Institute, a public-policy research group with libertarian leaning beliefs.
“It will inevitably lead to greater divisions among Americans,” the firm stated. “those who paid their loans or did not attend college—typically older and blue-collar Americans—will have good reason to think that we no longer have a government of, by, and for the people, but one that serves those with the loudest voices at any given moment or are most like those in power.”
Despite Justice Barrett’s denial, six Republican led states still look to pursue legal action against the debt relief plan.
Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Carolina, also look to stop Biden’s plan on the grounds that the administration has reached beyond its executive powers.
Despite being rejected by Missouri federal court judge Henry Edward Autrey, the states have continued with their lawsuit and now look to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to further the legal battle.
President Biden’s relief plan seeks to provide loan forgiveness of up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for those who did not receive the grants. Public opinion on the plan has been mixed, while two former Mesa Community College students argued that the plan does not do enough for borrowers, but is a step in the right direction.
