Washington CNN —
President Joe Biden falsely claimed last week that he got his student debt forgiveness initiative passed by Congress.
During an on-camera discussion conducted by progressive organization NowThis News and published online on Sunday, Biden told young activists that they “probably are aware, I just signed a law” that is being challenged by Republicans.
Biden then summarized the plan he announced in August, which offers cancellation of up to $20,000 in federal student loans for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for other borrowers (all subject to an income limit of less than $125,000 per person). Biden then said, “It’s passed. I got it passed by a vote or two, and it’s in effect.”
Facts First: Biden’s claims are incorrect. Biden created his student debt forgiveness initiative through executive action, not through legislation. So he did not sign a law and didn’t get the initiative passed by any number of votes.
Republicans opposed to the Biden initiative, including those who are challenging the initiative in court, have called it unlawful precisely because it wasn’t passed by Congress. In other words, the distinction between a law and an executive action is a highly pertinent fact in the ongoing battles over the legality and legitimacy of the policy. And in 2020 and 2021, Biden discussed that distinction himself while musing about various proposals for student debt forgiveness.
Asked for comment on Monday, a White House official said Biden was referring to...
Apple is set to pay $250 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the company of overselling Siri's artificial intelligence abilities on newer iPhones. According to MacRumors, the proposed class-actio...