Sen. Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement Friday, June 30 after the U.S. Supreme Court moved to block President Biden’s action to cancel student debt for 40 million Americans:
Today’s 6-3 Supreme Court decision is a devastating blow for tens of millions of low-income and working class Americans who were hoping for relief from the severe financial stress they face due to a mountain of student debt.
Thirteen years ago, in the disastrous Citizens United decision, the Supreme Court ruled that billionaires can legally buy elections. Today, the Supreme Court has made it clear that they will continue doing everything possible to protect the big money interests against the needs of struggling working families. This right wing ideology is consistent with their recent decisions: denying women the right to control their own bodies, ending affirmative action, attacking LGBT rights and limiting the government’s ability to address climate change.
Justice Kagan is absolutely correct when she wrote in her dissenting opinion that “this case should have been open-and-shut” in favor of the Biden Administration, the “Court’s first overreach in this case is deciding it at all,” and that the Supreme Court should “stay away from making this Nation’s policy about subjects like student-loan relief.”
In my view, if right-wing Supreme Court justices want to make public policy they should quit the Supreme Court and run for political office. Frankly, I do not think their extremist views will gain much traction with the average American voter.
Today, I am urging the Biden Administration to implement a Plan B immediately to cancel student debt for tens of millions of Americans who are struggling to pay the rent, put food on the table, and pay for the basic necessities of life.
Despite this legally unsound Supreme Court decision, the President has the clear authority under the Higher Education Act of 1965 to cancel student debt. He must use this authority immediately.
If Republicans could provide trillions of dollars in tax breaks to the top one percent and profitable corporations, if they could cancel hundreds of billions in loans for wealthy business owners during the pandemic when Trump was President and if they could vote to spend $886 billion on the Pentagon, please don’t tell me that we cannot afford to cancel student debt for working families.
The American people understand that we cannot continue to crush our young generation with a mountain of debt for doing the right thing – getting a college education.
As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, I will do everything I can to make sure that the more than 40 million Americans who are drowning in student debt get the relief that was promised to them as soon as possible.
Lastly, the time is long overdue for the Supreme Court to do what every other branch of the judiciary does. They must establish a code of ethical standards so that justices cannot secretly accept lavish financial gifts from billionaire patrons.
Categories: Commentary
This man has always been a total jerk.
Glad the Supremes gave meaning to rule of law, I scrimped for many years to save for my daughters college, they graduated debt free. Would be criminal to forgive debt of those who opted not to save and worse yet signed on to worthless degrees that cost a lot more than they will ever be worth.
Glad Joe got slapped down for trying to buy votes of young people.
Well there you have it. Another insight into Bernie’s unique delusional network. The government essentially takes over the higher education market…the customers no longer set the value of the product. Valuing of the product is turned over to the providers…they then ensnare the customer base into in a loan scheme. If they want this (culturally necessary but value inflated) product they need to up their government dependency up a notch. When folks begin to see that they’ve been hoodwinked by these manipulators and seek redress, the solution is to pretend like the “victims’” debt is a gross unfairness perpetrated not by schemers but by an unfair capitalist market place. The government loan granters, the colluding educational institutions and their élite unions are off the hook. And our enabling legislators say let’s have the tax payers clean this up for us…is that about it?
I would not vote for Boinie if he was running for Possum Queen of Bug Tussel, unless, is there a Bug Tussel in Russia ? Then we’d both be happy !
Maybe if his spouse did her job as a college President some of these children would have less debt. It would appear that her nepotism , lining her own pockets, and malfeasance was and is symptomatic of many higher education institutions assisting these children in running up their debt for these worthless educational experiences.
Guess that is the educational lesson learned Bern.
And Bernie – The Billionaires continue to buy those elections, just as one bought a seat for Becca Balint, yet I don’t hear a PEEP out of you for those bought & paid for such politico appointments, because they are benefitting you and your Communist comrades.
Currently, btw, I have TWO auto loans that I agreed to pay on but that I decided I’d prefer not to…..are you going to fight to have other Americans pay those off in MY stead??? If not, WHY not? Because attempting to buy my vote is IMPOSSIBLE – as opposed to the “youts” (see your Brooklyneese or “My Cousin Vinny”) YOU Democrats are looking to purchase.
Sorry, NOT everything in a free market, free society is ACTUALLY “free”!!!
I paid off MY school loans, they pay off theirs.
Thank God there are still enough Supreme Court Judges that haven’t been bought off by the Communists in this country, to wiill actually abide by our Constitution!
OOPS. Before anyone comments, to wiill, should read who will!
Back up the tractor trailer truck of Kleenex…the liberal tears are flowing! If only we had a legitimate education system, most would know the court ruled correctly. We are a Republic and the court is supposed to rule based on the U.S. Constitution weighing the good of all the Republic, not for the repugnant, ruling class elites. Thank God we have not yet reached the depths of destruction as seen in South America – we are dangerously close nonetheless.
Hey Bern. Booo hooo hooo hooo. Now go check your privilege bro.
Another Communist senator that doesn’t uphold his oath to the Constitution because they take the job knowing full well the Constitution is a threat to their power.
RON PAUL: “If we stuck to the Constitution as written, we would have: no federal meddling in our schools; no Federal Reserve; no U.S. membership in the UN; no gun control; and no foreign aid. We would have no welfare for big corporations. Or the “poor” ; no American troops in 100 foreign countries; no NAFTA, GAT or ”fast track”; no arrogant federal judges usurping states rights; no attacks on private property; no income tax. We would get rid of most agencies and most of the budget. The government would be small, frugal and limited”.
Open letter to Mr. Sanders which was also emailed to his office:
Mr. Sanders, it’s no secret you claim to be a Socialist. However, in your recent official remarks noted here “Today’s 6-3 Supreme Court decision is a devastating blow for tens of millions of low-income and working-class Americans who were hoping for relief from the severe financial stress they face due to a mountain of student debt.” You seem to have forgotten something.
Did you forget Mr. Sanders about the other large majority of working-class citizens who fricking paid off their student loans by working and skimping and going without? Yeah, that’s right. The majority of the country of hard-working, middle-income people with a good moral compass, work ethic and sense of fairness.
You want to take my hard-earned money that I am forced to pay to the federal government and give it to some 20 something year old person with a degree in the humanities who can’t find a job that pays them $30/hour because they were stupid enough to go into massive debt without a solid plan or have the moral character to be responsible for the debt they accrue?
You are a charlatan and a cheat. Moreover, in my mind you should be tried for crimes against the nation. You are violating your oath to the US Constitution. In case you need reminding, because I know that was a long time ago,
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
Do you remember that? The constitution isn’t about giving people money because they made bad decisions. If that’s the case, I have a few things I didn’t do so well, and I want debt forgiveness. Oh, not so much? How come Mr. Sanders? Because this isn’t about helping people out it’s about buying votes. You are a vile human person. I would run you out of the country on a rail if it was up to me. You and your despicable cronies. And by the way, I took that oath of office myself, twice. My oath doesn’t expire, and I am doing my best to uphold it including holding the elected officials in my state and country accountable.
For shame Mr. Sanders. You should be ashamed of yourself and all that you have done to destroy this nation.
Oh Bernie, you crack me up. Every word that comes out of your mouth is a lie. The poor students who, YOU and this INSANE administration, think deserve a free ride? How about some of the atrocious Bill’s that just passed in Vermont?
The “let’s give ourselves a raise” bill. S.39 $$$$$
The “free school meals for kids, for all families regardless of their ability to pay” bill. Really!? How’s about we go back to the sliding fee rule? Free or reduced? Where it’s based on family size and income of said famil, NOT by raising our property taxes to cover it!! $$$$$ H.165
The “unaffordable heat act” bill. Will raise +/- $.70 per gallon.$$$$$ S.5
The “childcare”bill. Subsidizes childcare for families earning up to $170,000 a year. Most people DO NOT earn that, nowhere NEAR that!! $$$$$ H.217
The “DMV from hell” bill. Approximately 20% increase to register your car/truck. $$$$$ H.479
The following is taken from a breakdown by Rep Art Peterson:
“Here is the estimated impact of these bills on the Vermont taxpayer.
Bill Cost (millions) per Vermonter per Household
Childcare (H.217) $92.7 $143 $353
School meals (H.165) $29.0 $45 $110
DMV Fees (H.479) $20.0 $31 $76
Clean Heat (S.5) $180.0 $278 $686
OPR Fees (H.503) $3.55 $5 $14
Total $325.3 $503 $1239
We are headed in the WRONG DIRECTION!
In addition, the House passed two other bills, H.66 Paid family leave (an additional payroll tax) and S.39 Legislative pay raises, that look to be primed to add in next session and will have a significant impact on your pocketbook.
Depending on what source you look at, Vermont is at or near the top now in total state taxes and fees taken from its citizens. Spending is out of control and will not be reined in until fiscally conservative people are elected to state government! PLEASE share this post to folks in all parts of the state! We need folks with COMMON SENSE to run for our state legislature in 2024, and the effort to find those folks must start NOW!
Vermont House of Representatives: 150 members- 37 Republicans, 113 Democrats, Progressives, Independents
Vermont Senate: 30 members- 7 Republicans, 23 Democrats, Progessives, Independents
If you live in a district represented by anyone other than a Republican, step up and run next year! YOUR STATE NEEDS YOU!”
Time for you to take your China loving, socialist agenda, Epstein flying, lying through your teeth, disgusting excuse for a human being body and leave Vermont. Oh, and take Becca and Phil with you.
Signed,
DisgruntledTaxpayer