Gov. DeSantis says it’s ‘wrong’ for the feds to forgive student loan debt

Desantis
'Almost 60% of it is graduate school debt.'

President Joe Biden continues to mull some form of student loan forgiveness. But Republicans aren’t sold, and Gov. Ron DeSantis is no exception.

On Friday in Williston, DeSantis blasted the concept of debt forgiveness as a regressive measure that punished working-class people by forcing them to absorb debt incurred for advanced degrees.

“This student debt that’s out there, almost 60% of it is graduate school debt. These are people like doctors and lawyers, people that are getting Masters’ and Ph. D’s and all this other stuff,” DeSantis said.

Currently, payment deadlines for federal student loans are paused, with a moratorium in effect through August 2022. But pressure has mounted from Democrats for Biden to move forward with a plan for debt cancellation. More than $1.6 trillion is owed by 43 million people. As the Associated Press reported earlier this month, seven million Americans are in default.

“You know, my view is why would you make a truck driver or a waitress or a construction worker pay off the debt for somebody that did a Ph.D. program in gender studies?” DeSantis said. “That’s wrong.”

The Governor’s comments come nearly a day after President Biden shot down a question from a reporter about plans to forgive $50,000 of debt.

“I am not considering $50,000 debt reduction but I am in the process of taking a hard look on whether or not there will be additional debt forgiveness. I’ll have an answer on that in the next couple weeks,” Biden said Thursday at the White House.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday policy moves are imminent, and Biden “would make a decision about any cancellation of student debt before the conclusion of that pause on student loans” in August.

However, any policy announcement will be razzed by Florida Republicans, who, like DeSantis, say loan forgiveness fails the equity test.

Sen. Rick Scott, the richest member of the U.S. Senate, suggested this week a move to forgive or cancel student loan debt would disadvantage people who “paid their way through school” as he did.

“If they’re going to run up debt, they need to have a plan to pay it back.”

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. His work also can be seen in the Washington Post, the New York Post, the Washington Times, and National Review, among other publications. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


5 comments

  • Impeach Biden

    April 29, 2022 at 11:15 am

    Of course it’s wrong to forgive the debt. All of these students signed a contract to pay their loans. They need to uphold their side of the agreement. What’s next auto loan forgiveness? By the way will those of us that did pay, will we get a credit from the Federal Government?

  • Donvanka

    April 29, 2022 at 11:58 am

    Big Government Overreach poster-dunce DeSantis is at it again. So attention hungry. Like a desperate woman at a club doing anything to get noticed. Even Florida deserves better.

  • Barlania

    April 29, 2022 at 12:01 pm

    Trump will you please come back and run to shut up this pathetic canal street copy of you? DeStupid is no Trump and never will be. Saccharine versus sugar. DeSantis leaves a bad taste. Trump is the real stuff.

  • Tom

    April 29, 2022 at 12:41 pm

    Of course it’s wrong.
    My son graduates this spring, my daughter did 4 years ago. We are not advocating that.

    Schumer is pushing this cause AOC and her squad want it. He’s afraid of her.

    Biden’s presidency is abysmal. The worst since Hoover and the depression. Youths are abandoning him. Just for the record AG, AOC and the squad were on the House floor demanding this. She’s over $70,000 in debt per her saying. What a self serving ingrate.. What a imposter. Total Soros Manchurian.

    You can thank her for the $4.50 or more gad prices, her and Commie Sanders. Green no deal! Anti carbon.

    As usual America’s Gov is right on!
    AG no need to mention Scott’s millions.
    Uncalled for.

  • Daniel M Kelley

    April 29, 2022 at 1:29 pm

    Biden is a dim wit! Some body has to pay these debts and guess who that is going to be? The inflation will get worse with these millions just being erased! How freaking clueless do you have to be to not see this?

Comments are closed.


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