Far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) encouraged voters this week to continue to “bully” the Biden White House into canceling student loan debt — one of the left’s key agenda items that President Biden has failed to address.
During a Q&A on Instagram, the New York Democrat responded to a user who said, “Cancel student debt so I can buy a damn house.”
“FYI, it does not take an act of Congress to cancel student debt,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote. “Biden could do it tomorrow if he wanted to.”
“Keep bullying the White House. It has been successful in delaying payments but now we gotta finish the job,” she added.
AOC’s Instagram story about canceling student loan debt for the purpose of buying a house (AOC/Instagram)
Indeed, in December, Biden reversed his decision to resume student loan payments beginning February 1 after facing pressure from members of the far-left.
“We know that millions of student loan borrowers are still coping with the impacts of the pandemic and need some more time before resuming payments,” the White House’s statement read at the time.
Payments are now slated to resume May 1, 2022.
“Given these considerations, today my Administration is extending the pause on federal student loan repayments for an additional 90 days — through May 1, 2022 — as we manage the ongoing pandemic and further strengthen our economic recovery,” Biden stated.
However, throughout his presidency, far-left Democrats have blasted Biden for failing to do anything substantial in terms of canceling student loan debt.
“You know how I know that President Biden has the power to #CancelStudentDebt? Because he’s already used it. So did President Obama, and so did Donald Trump,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) tweeted in December, calling on Biden to cancel up to $50,000 in student debt:
You know how I know that President Biden has the power to #CancelStudentDebt? Because he’s already used it. So did President Obama, and so did Donald Trump. It’s time for the administration to cancel $50,000 in student debt and give relief to people who are getting crushed.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) December 20, 2021
Similarly, Ocasio-Cortez has called on Biden to “lean on his executive authority” to make things happen, such as canceling student debt:
Biden needs to lean on his executive authority now. He has been delaying and underutilizing it so far. There is an enormous amount he can do on climate, student debt, immigration, cannabis, health care, and more.
Time is running out – we need to move and use alternative paths.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 20, 2021
Biden needs to lean on his executive authority now. He has been delaying and underutilizing it so far. There is an enormous amount he can do on climate, student debt, immigration, cannabis, health care, and more.
Time is running out – we need to move and use alternative paths.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 20, 2021
Today would be a perfect day for @POTUS to cancel at least $50,000 of student loan debt per borrower – before crushing payments restart in 44 days. All it takes is a signature.
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) December 19, 2021
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has also placed an emphasis on this issue this week:
College should be a ladder up for our young people, but because of student debt it’s too often an anchor.
Thank you to @VotoLatino for sitting down last night to talk about how President Biden can #CancelStudentDebt and help millions of people right now. pic.twitter.com/FF0YRlgcud
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 17, 2022
However, Biden has made it clear he has no real intention of canceling up to $50,000 in student loan debt, despite the calls from his progressive colleagues:
From the Biden town hall on CNN last night, this questioner asked about canceling $50,000 worth of student debt:
“What will you do to make that happen?”
“I will not make that happen.” pic.twitter.com/Y7auUT2YQZ— The Recount (@therecount) February 17, 2021
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.