Florida pols celebrate, condemn SCOTUS ruling against Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan

A sign reading "cancel student debt" is seen outside the Supreme Court, Friday, June 30, 2023, as decisions are expected in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Sunshine State politicians were abuzz in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision rejecting President Joe Biden’s $400 billion plan to cancel or reduce federal student loan debts for millions of Americans.

Biden promised the “fight is not over yet” in a statement released shortly after the ruling.

“While today’s decision is disappointing, we should not lose sight of the progress we’ve made — making historic increases to Pell Grants; forgiving loans for teachers, firefighters and others in public service; and creating a new debt repayment plan, so no one with an undergraduate loan has to pay more than 5% of their discretionary income,” he said.

“But I will stop at nothing to find other ways to deliver relief to hard-working middle-class families. My administration will continue to work to bring the promise of higher education to every American.”

As was the case with the court’s 6-3 decision — in which Democratically appointed Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented with the ruling — opinions among Florida pols were split along partisan lines.

Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott blasted Biden’s “student loan ‘forgiveness’ program,” calling it a “publicity stunt” and “unconstitutional.”

“Finally, some common sense after Biden wanted hard-working Americans like plumbers and welders to pay for elite lawyers’ law school bills,” he said on Twitter.

Biden’s student loan ‘forgiveness’ program was a publicity stunt & unconstitutional.

Finally, some common sense after Biden wanted hard working Americans like plumbers and welders to pay for elite lawyers' law school bills.

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) June 30, 2023

Republican U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean opened his Twitter summary of the ruling with one word and two punctuation marks: “VICTORY!!”

VICTORY!!#SCOTUS ruled that Biden’s student loan scheme is unconstitutional.@EdWorkforceCmte is determined to address the root cause of student loan debt and how to lower the skyrocketing cost of college.

— Aaron Bean (@RepAaronBean) June 30, 2023

Democratic U.S. Reps. Maxwell Frost and Darren Soto both decried the decision.

Frost, a veteran organizer, quickly scheduled an “emergency digital action” session for 6:30 p.m. on Facebook and Twitter. In an interview with MSNBC, he said he’s “incredibly disheartened” by the student debt relief ruling and another decision the court made Friday that certain businesses can deny service to members of the LGBTQ community.

“This is part of the reason we need to call out this corrupt court and the fact that it’s not working with the best interest of the American people in mind,” he said, referring to reports that conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito accepted previously undisclosed gifts from Republican megadonors.

“We have to continue to organize because this fight isn't over to protect student loan debt forgiveness. The president still has tools he can use and we'll push to ensure that he uses them.”

— Rep. Frost (D-FL), who says he is “incredibly disheartened” with SCOTUS rulings today pic.twitter.com/sReBTiDL73

— The Recount (@therecount) June 30, 2023

“We’re working on mobilizing folks both on the affirmative action and on the two things that happened this morning,” he said, referring to yet another decision the Supreme Court made Thursday striking down affirmative action in college admissions. “We have to continue to organize, because this fight isn’t over.”

Frost added that Biden “still has tools he can use” to push for student loan debt relief, “and we’ll push to ensure that he uses them.”

Soto called it “a devastating setback to millions of Americans” due to “judicial activism.” During the pandemic, he said, the federal government used taxpayer dollars to support families, small businesses, nonprofits and local governments.

Today’s ruling blocking student loan relief is a devastating setback to millions of Americans.

During the pandemic, we supported families, small biz, non-profits, and local govt's. @POTUS included borrowers too under the HEROES Act.

This is judicial activism plain and simple. https://t.co/HroPAlZrsE

— Rep. Darren Soto (@RepDarrenSoto) June 30, 2023

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried got profane in a Twitter post of the ruling, calling it “yet another reason to never, ever skip an election.”

“Register to f**king vote,” she continued. “Then do it.”

Evan Power, Vice Chair of the Florida GOP, took exception with Fried’s salty language.

“Nikki is swearing about paying student loans? How small,” he said. “Only 13% of Americans have student loans, why should everybody have to pay for them?”

Nikki is swearing about paying student loans? How small. Only 13% of Americans have student loans, why should everyone have to pay for them? https://t.co/BLBaNklu9a

— Evan Power (@EvanPower) June 30, 2023

Miami Gardens Democratic Sen. Shevrin Jones, a longtime education professional and the first gay person and the first LGBTQ Black person elected to the Florida Legislature’s upper chamber, called the court’s rulings this week “atrocious.”

“The fact that six unelected individuals subsidized by billionaires are so aggressively dismantling our democracy is deeply unsettling,” he said. “As a result, millions of Americans will be less economically secure, less free, and less able to access opportunities this country ought to afford everyone, regardless of circumstances. I applaud President Biden’s commitment to the people, especially young Americans.”

Democratic House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell highlighted the degree to which America has shifted in just over a year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

“In the long shadow cast by their Dobbs decision, the Supreme Court has this week invalidated affirmative action, allowed LGBTQ discrimination, and stopped President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan,” she said. “How far our Court has strayed from the path of justice.”

In the long shadow cast by their Dobbs decision, the Supreme Court has this week invalidated affirmative action, allowed LGBTQ discrimination, and stopped President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan.

How far our Court has strayed from the path of justice.

— Representative Fentrice Driskell (@FentriceForFL) June 30, 2023

In a lengthy statement, West Palm Beach Democratic Rep. Jervonte Edmonds expressed “strong condemnation” for the ruling, which he said will have “dire consequences for this country, exacerbating the already burdensome student debt crisis and impeding the progress of prosperity of millions of Americans.”

“The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down student loan forgiveness is a grave disservice to the American people,” he said. “It disregards the urgent need for relief and perpetuates a system that penalizes hardworking individuals seeking higher education. This decision hampers our nation’s economic growth, restricts opportunities, and undermines the principles of fairness and justice.”

He added, “This decision underscores the need for legislative solutions that address the student debt crisis head-on. We must work together to enact comprehensive reform that includes robust student loan forgiveness programs, increased financial aid, and improved access to affordable education. We cannot allow the dreams and aspirations of an entire generation to be crushed under the weight of insurmountable debt.”

Orlando Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani laid out what the “incredibly disappointing decision” obstructs.

“According to data, nearly 90% of the relief from the plan would have gone to borrowers making less than $75,000 a year, and none of it would have gone to people making more than $125,000,” she said in a statement.

“This country has had no problem in canceling debt for businesses or in allowing some of the biggest corporations to avoid paying their taxes and get generous tax breaks. But then when it comes to securing relief for working-class people, it’s all of a sudden unheard of. We must find other ways to deliver relief to hardworking middle-class families and I urge Congress to take action immediately.”

North Miami Democratic Rep. Dotie Joseph used the decision to contrast Democratic and Republican priorities.

“Dems fight to make life more affordable for families — from Social Security to health care, family leave (and) student debt,” she wrote on Twitter. “The GOP has declared war on working people — fighting economic relief at every turn, boldly rewarding donors (with) corrupt corporate welfare.”

#ElectionsHaveConsequences

Dems fight to make life more affordable for families-from Social Secuity to healthcare, family leave & student debt

The GOP has declared war on working people-fighting economic relief at every turn, boldly rewarding donors w/corrupt corporate welfare https://t.co/TQRTHnSD46

— Rep. Dotie Joseph (@RepDotieJoseph) June 30, 2023

Later Friday, Biden, offered some detail on the next steps his administration will take regarding student loans.

“We need to find a new way, and we’re moving as fast as we can,” he said shortly after 4 p.m., more than four hours after the ruling. “First, I’m announcing today a new path consistent with today’s ruling to provide student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible, as quickly as possible.”

Biden: I'm announcing today a new path consistent with today's ruling to provide student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible as quickly as possible. We will ground this new approach in a different law than my original plan with the higher education act. pic.twitter.com/d70zEDIPf4

— Acyn (@Acyn) June 30, 2023

He continued, “We will ground this new approach in a different law than my original plan, the so-called Higher Education Act. That will allow (Education) Secretary (Miguel) Cardona … to compromise, waive or release loans under certain circumstances. This new path is legally sound. It’s going to take longer, but in my view it’s the best path that remains to provide as many borrowers as possible with debt relief.”

“Just moments ago, Secretary Cardona took the first step to initiate that new approach. We’re not going to waste any time on this.”