Supreme Court hears arguments on student loan waiver scheme

The Supreme Court heard Oral arguments on Tuesday’s two challenges Many conservative justices are skeptical of the government’s authority to pay off millions of dollars in federal loans, thanks to President Joe Biden’s student loan relief plan.

The hearing made it clear that if conservatives ultimately rule in favor of opponents of the policy, they must understand legal questions about why states and individual borrowers should be allowed to sue the program. Arguments.

Millions of student loan borrowers qualify Up to $20,000 of their debt can be written off Depending on the outcome of the arguments. The justices’ ruling will determine how and when payments on federal student loans will resume after a pandemic-related pause nearly three years ago.

In Biden v. nebraska, A Republican-led group of states argued the administration overstepped its authority by using the pandemic to cover up its real goal of fulfilling a campaign promise to wipe out student-loan debt.

The second case is Department of Education v. Brown argues that it was initially brought by two individuals who did not qualify for the program and that the government failed to follow a proper rule-making process when implementing it.

Here are some excerpts from the oral arguments:

Conservatives see the case as another opportunity to rein in Biden’s aggressive actions: In questions posed by the conservative justices, they signaled that they were looking to make the GOP states’ case to the court. Another opportunity to draw lines The executive branch can and cannot function without Congress.

About what are called multiple exchanges “Key Questions Theory” A legal doctrine adopted by the Court’s Republican nominees is that when Congress is empowered to do something of great political or economic importance to an agency, it can be expected to speak with specificity.

Under the theory, the states argue that the Biden student loan program should be blocked.

A particular flashpoint in the investigation was the possible harm of the loan forgiveness program given MOHELA — a Missouri-incorporated entity that makes loans in the state — Missouri’s position. Several judges noted that MOHELA could have filed its own suit against the project, but did not.

Barrett could be a justice: Judge Amy Connie Barrett Among conservatives, he set aside a potential vote for the court’s three liberal members to ask specifically pointed questions about GOP states’ standing arguments.

“If the mohela is part of the state, why don’t you say you’re a strong mohela and pursue this case,” Barrett asked Campbell, who asked him several questions about the states’ positions.

Even if Barrett voted with liberals to dismiss the case because of sustainability concerns, the Biden administration would need the vote of one more GOP-appointed judge.

“There are 50 million students — who will benefit from this. Who will struggle today. Many of them don’t have enough assets to bail out after the pandemic. They don’t have friends or family or other people who can help make these payments,” he noted. Those borrowers will be affected by the pandemic in ways that others will not be affected. He said.

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