In August, the Biden Administration announced the absolution of large amounts of student loan debt. Republicans have been quick to condemn the already heavy tax burden this will pile on to working-class Americans.
So what might be the motive for Biden to do this?
Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL-17) spoke with Fox News' Evening Edit Wednesday night saying that this student loan forgiveness is nothing more than a massive vote-buying scheme.
Host Elizabeth MacDonald says that several Democrats, including Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) have criticized the plan as wrong. "It's wrong on so many different levels," Steube replies. "And it tells you a lot, especially in Washington DC, to actually have Democrats who are willing to go on the record against what the Biden administration is trying to do."
He elaborates that "it's obvious that they're trying to pay people off ahead of the midterm elections and hand out money to a very small class of Americans." Steube argues that many Americans have not gone to college, while this student loan debt forgiveness will primarily only benefit young recipients of advanced degrees. Furthermore, "it's adding to inflationary problems because you're dumping money into an economy that's already hot on inflation."
MacDonald asks if Biden's infamous "MAGA Republicans" speech is a means of deflecting backlash to the student loan forgiveness plan, but even then he is flip-flopping on the supposed "threat" of MAGA voters. Steube argues that "he doesn't want to be divisive, yet he's actually being divisive in going after 73 million Americans that voted for Trump."
Additionally, he adds that "and what I've noticed in my four years in Washington is if the Democrats can't beat you in policy or on facts, they just resort to name-calling," an observation he had made previously speaking with Tom Shillue.
Late Thursday morning, Steube tweeted his discussion calling it "obvious" that Biden's debt forgiveness plan is "trying to pay people off before the midterm elections."
It’s obvious the Biden Administration is trying to pay people off before the midterm elections. I joined @EveningEdit to discuss. pic.twitter.com/ROEaWTeWC7
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) September 8, 2022
"It’s obvious the Biden Administration is trying to pay people off before the midterm elections. I joined @EveningEdit to discuss," he tweeted.
