Georgia U.S. Representative Rick Allen (R-GA-12) (pictured above, right) condemned President Joe Biden’s veto of a resolution that would have nullified the suspension of federal student loan payments and discharge of debt.
Our democracy is built on a system of checks and balances.
President Biden’s refusal to accept the House and Senate’s bipartisan rejection of his massive student loan bailout flies in the face of a representative government.
My full statement ⤵️https://t.co/S7THZkWtGz
— Rick W. Allen (@RepRickAllen) June 8, 2023
On Wednesday, Biden vetoed H.J. Res. 45, which would have overturned his student loan “forgiveness” plan that suspends up to $10,000 in debt relief per borrower and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients.
“President Biden has once again gone against the will of the American people by vetoing H. J. Res. 45,” Allen stated. “Our democracy is built on a system of checks and balances, and President Biden’s refusal to accept the House and Senate’s bipartisan rejection of his massive student loan bailout flies in the face of a representative government.”
“Americans shouldn’t be forced to foot the bill for loans they didn’t borrow; however, this administration is hellbent on making this an unfortunate reality that will cost taxpayers billions,” Allen added.
Biden released a lengthy statement following his veto, arguing that the Department of Education’s debt cancelation plan provides borrowers with “the essential relief they need as they recover from the economic strains associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Congressional Republicans led an effort to pass a bill blocking my Administration’s plan to provide up to $20,000 in student debt relief to working and middle class Americans.
I won’t back down on helping hardworking folks.
That’s why I’m vetoing this bill. pic.twitter.com/ZeYEm4LOjz
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 7, 2023
“It is a shame for working families across the country that lawmakers continue to pursue this unprecedented attempt to deny critical relief to millions of their own constituents, even as several of these same lawmakers have had tens of thousands of dollars of their own business loans forgiven by the Federal Government,” Biden added.
The resolution passed the House of Representatives by a 218-203 vote and the Senate by a 52-46 vote. Democrat representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-03) and Jared Golden (D-ME-02), along with senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), joined Republican lawmakers in passing the resolution and sending it to Biden’s desk.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and The Star News Network.
Photo “Rick Allen” by Rick Allen. Photo “Joe Biden” by The White House. Background Photo “U.S. Capitol” by Andy Feliciotti.
