A joint resolution to block President Joe Biden’s student loan relief proposal cleared the Senate on Thursday, but that was likely the end of legislative efforts to derail the initiative.
That’s because the White House said Biden would veto the measure, which cleared the Senate by a vote of 52 to 46. Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana, along with independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, supported the measure, as did every Republican. The resolution passed the House last week, but neither vote garnered enough support to override a veto.
Despite the legislative conflict, the final test for the proposal will be whether it can survive challenges before the Supreme Court, which heard arguments in February. The judges are expected to issue a decision before the end of June.
Republicans say Biden’s student loan relief proposal would fuel inflation, do nothing to reduce college costs and is unfair to those who don’t have college debt.
“We’re asking taxpayers in general to foot the bill for student loan cancellation for Americans who have enjoyed higher long-term income potential than many Americans who can help shoulder the burden. -anon,” said Sen. John Thune, R. -SD “The president’s student loan giveaway isn’t a government handout for the needy, it’s a government handout that disproportionately benefits better-off Americans.”