President Joe Biden compared his plan to forgive millions in student debt to the vital paycheck protection assistance program launched at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The President made his remarks in front of 3,000 guests at the Phoenix Awards Dinner hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in Washington DC on Saturday.
Biden told the audience, “I don’t want to hear a word from these members of Congress, notice, whose families have received tens of thousands of dollars and multi-million dollars in pandemic relief loan forgiveness.”
He added: “The same ones who criticize. Take a break, come on.’
In August, Biden said the US government would forgive millions of debt-ridden alumni $10,000 in student loans, fulfilling a promise he made during the 2020 White House campaign.
On Saturday, Biden went on to say, “We can afford to forgive $10,000 in student debt and $20,000 if you had a Pell Grant for Americans earning less than 125 grand.”
He also referred to the handout as a “game changer.”
Among those commenting on Biden’s comments on Saturday was Republican Party deputy communications chief Nathan Brand, who said, “Joe Biden doesn’t care about small businesses.”
President Joe Biden told guests at the Phoenix Awards Saturday, “We can afford to forgive $10,000 in student debt and $20,000 if you had a Pell Grant for Americans earning less than $125,000.”
In August, Biden said the US government would forgive millions of heavily indebted former college students $10,000 in student loans
Biden later targeted the Republican Party for trying to block the anti-inflation bill.
He said: “Imagine being a parent of a child with type 1 diabetes and knowing that if you don’t get this drug, if they don’t get this insulin, if they don’t get it on time, their health is permanent can be damaged or they could die… It’s wrong!’
The former senator campaigned for the Child Tax Credit: “We’re going to do all of this while reducing the deficit. I’m so sick of the Republicans saying we’re the big lenders, give me a break. Give me a break.’
Just this week, a libertarian group in California on Tuesday filed a legal challenge to Biden’s student debt relief plan, calling it an illegal overstatement that would increase the state tax burden on some Americans who are being forgiven their debts.
The lawsuit, believed to be the first against Biden’s plan, was filed by the Pacific Legal Foundation, a Sacramento law firm.
It was filed in federal court in Indiana, one of several states planning to tax all student debt forgiven by Biden’s plan.
Any student debt forgiven under Biden’s plan would also be subject to state taxes in Arkansas, California, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina and Wisconsin unless lawmakers in those states change their applicable laws.
Republicans who have criticized Biden’s student debt relief and who have received PPP relief include newly single Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Rep. Matt Gaetz and Rep. Brett Guthrie.
Biden and his embattled Vice President Kamala Harris were the joint keynote speakers at the 51st annual event.
During their speeches, the two highlighted their government’s apparent achievements on race relations and issues affecting black communities.
Despite recent troubles, a Gallup poll this week showed his job approval rating rose to 44 percent.
Both Biden and his embattled Vice President Kamala Harris were joint keynote speakers at the 51st annual event
Legendary singer Gladys Knight was among the performers at the Phoenix Awards
Illinois Congressman and Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Rush was pictured at the event on Saturday
US First Lady Jill Biden and US Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff listen as US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks
In his opening remarks, President Biden said, “I know you’re really here to see Gladys Knight. I’m not one of the Pips!’
At the same event, Opel Lee, who led efforts to make June 16 a federal holiday, won the Phoenix Award.
Lee told the audience, “Make yourself a one-man committee. If we can teach people hate, we can teach people love.”
The week leading up to the Phoenix Awards was known to be Congressional Black Caucus Week, featuring over 100 forums bringing together politicians, celebrities, business leaders and citizens while discussing issues affecting the black community.
The theme of this year’s event was “Advancing Our Purpose. increasing our power.’
An event this week hosted the first screening of Will Smith’s latest film, Emancipation. In the film, Smith plays the role of an enslaved man who, after escaping brutal beatings, escapes captivity through the Louisiana swamps.
In the run-up to the 2022 midterm elections, Biden has chaired 11 receptions to directly raise money for the Democratic National Committee and they have raised more than $19.6 million, according to the committee.
Events ranged from $300,000 at a Portland, Oregon yacht club to an 18-person cozy affair (with four others on video screens) at the Hotel Washington near the White House that raised more than $3 million brought in.
Two fundraisers in Southern California mansions during the Summit of the Americas in June raised $5 million in a matter of hours.
Separate from DNC events, Biden spoke at a fundraiser benefiting Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in September, which raised more than $450,000 for the state’s Democratic Party.