Nebraska and five other states get national injunction against Biden’s student debt relief plan

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court on Monday issued a national court order indefinitely blocking the Biden administration’s student debt relief program in reaction to a challenge across six GOP-led states.

The unanimous decision of the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit of St. Louis came after the six states — Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina — argued that the loan relief program threatened long-term tax revenues in those states and that the Biden administration’s plan exceeded congressional authority.

“The injunction will remain in effect until this court or the U. S. Supreme Court becomes aware,” according to the order from a three-judge panel.

These judges are Bobthrough E. Shepherd and Ralph R. Erickson, appointed by President George W. Bush, and L. Steven Grasz, a nominee by President Donald Trump. Grasz is originally from Nebraska and in the past served as the state’s lead assistant prosecutor. general.

The White House in a defense of the program, which has been the subject of several lawsuits.

“We are confident in our legal authority for the student debt relief program and it is mandatory to help borrowers in utmost need as they recover from the pandemic,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Fight those baseless demands brought through Republican officials and vested interests and will never impede the fight on behalf of American personnel and the middle classes. “

Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson said after Monday’s ruling, “The Eighth Circuit’s thorough investigation into the status factor confirms that states have the right to continue this vital case. The court also recognizes that this attempt to cancel more than $400 billion in student loans threatens to cause serious damage to the economy that cannot be repaired. It is vital to save the Biden administration from such illegal abuses of power.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen praised Peterson’s efforts in the debt relief program.

“Today’s resolution to prevent Biden’s illegal executive order is a victory for the rule of law,” Pillen said in a statement. “The federal government will not bail out school graduates at the expense of Nebraska workers. “

Biden’s administration stopped accepting lawsuits for his student debt relief program last week after a Texas judge ruled Thursday that he canceled the program, calling it “unconstitutional. “The Justice Department appealed this decision. The pending programmes are carried out through the Ministry of Education.

First, a federal judgment passed in Missouri dismissed the six-state lawsuit and ruled that the states lacked the legal capacity to bring a case on the grounds that they would be harmed in the future.

However, the appeals court found that in Missouri, that state had shown likely damages because a primary loan servicer, the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, known as MOHELA, which is located in the state would lose profits due to the debt relief program.

“Due to MOHELA’s monetary obligations to the Treasury, the cancellation of the disputed student loan debt poses a risk of monetary harm to the state of Missouri,” according to the panel. “So Missouri has the legal capacity to file your claim. And since at least one party has a position, we do not want to face the quality of other states.

The three-judge panel made the decision not to limit the injunction to the six states because it would “not be practical and would not provide complete relief” and because MOHELA has loans to the country.

“Given MOHELA’s national role in the accounts service, we do not perceive any practicable path in this emergency posture for the scope of aid,” according to the order.

More than one million Americans have student loan debt, and the Federal Reserve estimates that total student loan debt in the United States exceeds $1. 76 trillion.

The Biden administration’s plan would write off up to $10,000 in loan forgiveness for eligible student borrowers, while Pell grant recipients can only apply for up to $20,000 in debt relief. couples who earned up to $250,000 consistent with the year.

More than 26 million student borrowers have implemented the program and millions have been accepted, according to Jean-Pierre.

Student loan payments have been suspended since early 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, and are expected to resume on January 1. Biden’s management has announced whether it will extend the pause in student loan payments.

by Ariana Figueroa, Nebraska Examiner November 14, 2022

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Monday issued a national court order indefinitely blocking the Biden administration’s student debt relief program in reaction to a six-state GOP-led challenge.

The unanimous decision of the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit of St. Louis came after the six states — Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina — argued that the loan relief program threatened long-term tax revenues in those states and that the Biden administration’s plan exceeded congressional authority.

“The injunction will remain in effect until this court or the U. S. Supreme Court becomes aware,” according to the order from a three-judge panel.

These judges are Bobthrough E. Shepherd and Ralph R. Erickson, appointed by President George W. Bush, and L. Steven Grasz, a nominee by President Donald Trump. Grasz is originally from Nebraska and in the past served as the state’s lead assistant prosecutor. general.

The White House in a defense of the program, which has been the subject of several lawsuits.

“We are confident in our legal authority for the student debt relief program and it is mandatory to help borrowers in utmost need as they recover from the pandemic,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Fight those baseless demands brought through Republican officials and vested interests and will never impede the fight on behalf of American personnel and the middle classes. “

Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson said after Monday’s ruling, “The Eighth Circuit’s thorough investigation into the status factor confirms that states have the right to continue this vital case. The court also recognizes that this attempt to cancel more than $400 billion in student loans threatens to cause serious damage to the economy that cannot be repaired. It is vital to save the Biden administration from such illegal abuses of power.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen praised Peterson’s efforts in the debt relief program.

“Today’s resolution to prevent Biden’s illegal executive order is a victory for the rule of law,” Pillen said in a statement. “The federal government will not bail out school graduates at the expense of Nebraska workers. “

Biden’s administration stopped accepting lawsuits for his student debt relief program last week after a Texas judge ruled Thursday that he canceled the program, calling it “unconstitutional. “The Justice Department appealed this decision. The pending programmes are carried out through the Ministry of Education.

First, a federal judgment passed in Missouri dismissed the six-state lawsuit and ruled that the states lacked the legal capacity to bring a case on the grounds that they would be harmed in the future.

However, the appeals court found that in Missouri, that state had shown likely damages because a primary loan servicer, the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, known as MOHELA, which is located in the state would lose profits due to the debt relief program.

“Due to MOHELA’s monetary obligations to the Treasury, the cancellation of the disputed student loan debt poses a risk of monetary harm to the state of Missouri,” according to the panel. “So Missouri has the legal capacity to file your claim. And since at least one party has a position, we do not want to face the quality of other states.

The three-judge panel made the decision not to limit the injunction to the six states because it would “not be practical and would not provide complete relief” and because MOHELA has loans to the country.

“Given MOHELA’s national role in the accounts service, we do not perceive any practicable path in this emergency posture for the scope of aid,” according to the order.

More than one million Americans have student loan debt, and the Federal Reserve estimates that total student loan debt in the United States exceeds $1. 76 trillion.

The Biden administration’s plan would write off up to $10,000 in loan forgiveness for eligible student borrowers, while Pell grant recipients can only apply for up to $20,000 in debt relief. couples who earned up to $250,000 consistent with the year.

More than 26 million student borrowers have implemented the program and millions have been accepted, according to Jean-Pierre.

Student loan payments have been suspended since early 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, and are expected to resume on January 1. Biden’s management has announced whether it will extend the pause in student loan payments.

Nebraska Examiner belongs to States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported through grants and a donor coalition as a 501c public charity (3). Nebraska Examiner maintains its editorial independence. Please contact editor Cate Folsom if you have any questions: info@nebraskaexaminer. com. Follow the Nebraska reviewer on Facebook and Twitter.

Ariana covers the nation’s capital for the States Newsroom. His political spaces include politics and politics, lobbying, elections, and cross-finance.

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