AOC Pressures Biden About Student Loans While Taking a Dig at Manchin

By NATE GARTRELL On Nov 2, 2021

A disappointing Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion social spending plan has Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, calling for him to do away with student debt – while attacking Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.

After negotiations with centrist holdouts, such as John Manchin and Sinema, D-Ariz., the Build Back Better plan has been scaled back from Democrats’ initial $3.5 trillion proposals.

“I think given how much BBB has been slashed, there is more opportunity than ever to bring the heat on Biden to cancel student loans,” Ocasio-Cortez posted on her Instagram story Thursday, according to The Hill.

“He doesn’t need Manchin’s permission for that, and now that his agenda is thinly sliced, he needs to step up his executive action game and show his commitment to deliver for people.”

As a consequence of the pandemic, student loan payments have been deferred. However, when payments resume in February, the debate is expected to intensify.
Charles Schumer, the Senate majority leader, has called for students to be relieved of $50,000 in debt, according to the news outlet, The Hill.

Despite Biden’s proposal to relieve the student debt burden through executive action, not much progress has been made in that area, according to The Hill.

Additionally, Ocasio-Cortez hinted at a possible “showdown” following the resumption of student loan payments on Feb. 1 after nearly two years.

“We need to organize and prepare actions now,” Ocasio-Cortez stated.

Much more, she offered kudos to the Debt Collective, an organization fighting for the abolition of debt, and also called upon the organization to provide organizing advice.

As Business Insider reported, Biden has already forgiven about $11.5 billion in student debt owed by targeted groups, including for-profit school borrowers.

In a later report, Business Insider reported that Miguel Cardona had said “conversations are continuing” regarding a general loan forgiveness program.