Ohio Democratic and Republican candidates alike are panning President Joe Biden’s plan to cancel billions in student loan debt, though for differing reasons.
Incumbent Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, his Democratic challenger and former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, and U.S. Senate candidates J.D. Vance and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan all criticized Biden’s proposal. Vance, a Republican, and Ryan, a Democrat, are seeking the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, who is not running for reelection.
The debt relief is expected to affect millions of borrowers, but how many is unclear because detailed eligibility criteria haven’t been set. About 43 million people hold loans backed by the U.S. Department of Education. That’s roughly 93% of all student loans, and the rest came from private lenders.
Republican officials in several states have announced they will challenge the debt-forgiveness plan in court.
Whaley
“We need to help students afford the education they want, whether that’s a college degree, an apprenticeship, or something else. That’s why we should be focusing on lowering interest rates and making sure banks can’t charge exorbitant rates that make the cost of paying loans back astronomical.”
DeWine
“Gov. DeWine has been consistent on this issue. On the other hand, Mayor Whaley has long called for President Biden’s plan to redistribute wealth from the working class to high-earning Americans,” she said. “Now that Mayor Whaley realizes taxpayers footing the bill for blanket student loan relief isn’t popular with Ohio voters, she is flip-flopping and purporting to support those who work hard and save.”
Vance
“Biden’s plan is wrong on two major fronts. First, it lets the university cabal off of the hook for what they’ve done to radically increase the cost of college, all while they sit comfortably on hundreds of billions of dollars in endowment funds,” he said. “Second, at a time when low-income Americans are really hurting, Biden’s delivering aid to those who have significantly higher earning potential, while he makes people like Ohio’s plumbers, electricians, and factory workers foot the bill.”
Ryan
“Tim believes using executive action to wipe away six-figure earners’ debt goes too far without actually addressing the skyrocketing costs of higher education that have caused this crisis,” Ryan campaign spokesperson Izzi Levy said. “Meanwhile, inflation remains high for all Ohioans, regardless of education level.
