A Virginia congressional nominee filmed an attack ad from a dumpster

Biden says he plans to forgive some student loan debt.

Aug 24, 2022

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Biden says he plans to forgive some student loan debt

President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he plans to forgive $10,000 in federal student loan debt for individuals making less than $125,000 a year..

“In keeping with my campaign promise, my Administration is announcing a plan to give working and middle class families breathing room as they prepare to resume federal student loan payments in January 2023,” Biden tweeted Wednesday.

The amount of forgiveness will be higher for low-income borrowers who went to college on Pell Grants. Those who went to college on Pell Grants will receive $20,000 in student loan forgiveness.

The Young Democrats of America responded to the announcement from Biden Wednesday. “This is a much needed step in the right direction down a very long path to rectifying years of debtors taking advantage of millions of those seeking higher degrees. We would have hoped, still hope, and know that the administration can expand upon this so that no one owes money for pursuing a post secondary education,” they said. “Right now, 42.4 million people (roughly 12% of the population) have outstanding student loans in the United States. The majority of those who owe money are millennials and Gen Z, who owe an average of $38,000 and will no doubt be owing this money for the rest of their lives due to interest rates. Forgiving $10,000 of that will be a start but is by no means the end. In terms of the political and electoral ramifications, we also raise that total student debt cancellation is still a very popular issue. During the Midterm Elections when the Democratic Party is looking for ways to inspire hope amongst young voters, expanding on this in a non-means tested way will ultimately be an easy win for the party.”

Political activist Amani Wells-Onyioha also responded to the announcement from the president. “Biden is finally attempting to deliver on one of his many campaign promises. But before we throw him a party, let’s think about the actual effect this will have on borrowers. Most borrowers' debt is well into $30,000 or more. An average of $52,000 for black women alone. And if you have a master's degree then you're looking at even bigger numbers. Overall, the interest alone will eat up the 10,000 dollars before any actual debt relief takes place. All while businesses are getting PPP loan forgiveness of over 90k per loan. It’s really a slap in the face and a last-ditch campaign effort before heading into primary season. Also, the bill is quite restrictive on who can even qualify for forgiveness. So while this is a nice gesture, most Americans are not impressed."

Kathryn Watson @kathrynw5

More details from a call with senior administration officials: -Current students will also be eligible for debt cancelation. For dependent students, income will be based on parental income. -If a borrower's income was below the cap in EITHER 2020 or 2021, they are eligible.

President Biden @POTUS

I’ll be delivering remarks on my Administration's student loan debt relief plan at 2:15 PM ET. In the meantime, go to StudentAid.gov/DebtRelief for more information.

studentaid.govThe Biden-Harris Administration’s Student Debt Relief Plan ExplainedNew one-time student loan cancellation to be granted based on income; and student loan payment pause extended through Dec. 31, 2022

T. March Bell, a Youngkin hire, previously accused of mishandling state funds at DEQ - VPM News

by Ben Paviour

In May, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration offered a job to T. March Bell, an attorney and former congressional aide. Unlike many of the governor’s hires, Bell’s new role as senior advisor to Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Bob Mosier wasn’t formally announced by the administration.

But Bell is a well-known figure in politics at the state and federal levels. He was asked to resign as deputy director of Virginia Department of Environmental Quality in 1997 after a legislative audit found he couldn’t justify a nearly $8,000 payment to a former employee. More recently, Bell has attracted scrutiny for his role in a congressional investigation into Planned Parenthood centered on debunked claims the group was profiting from the sales of fetal tissue.

Rep. Gerry Connolly Announces Run for Top Democrat on Committee on Oversight and Reform in the 118th Congress

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11), Chairman of the House Government Operations subcommittee, announced Wednesday that he will be running to be the top Democrat of the Committee on Oversight and Reform in the 118th Congress. The position will be open after Tuesday’s primary defeat of the current top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).

Connolly released the following statement with his announcement:

“The American people must see the Committee on Oversight and Reform as a force for making government work, enforcing accountability to Congress, and most importantly, protecting our fragile democracy and strengthening the institutions that define American democratic resilience. That was the legacy of Elijah Cummings, and that was the high standard our tenacious Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney set when she took over our Committee. I especially thank Carolyn for her heroic leadership on the September 11th Health Fund, the Equal Rights Amendment, and Postal Service Reform.

“For more than fourteen years, I have made this Committee my top priority and focused on the issues that define it: Postal reform; defending our proud federal employees; rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse; modernizing the federal government; and holding the Trump administration accountable.

“Our Caucus must continue to repair the damage left by the Trump administration, while also protecting the progress made by President Biden and our Democratic majorities. We need a tested leader who will not be timid in the face of Republican insurrectionists. One who has a deep understanding of the issues facing our Committee and our country. A collaborator who can be a bridge to our talented and diverse caucus. I believe I can be that leader, and look forward to earning the support of my colleagues.”