President Biden’s decision to issue an executive order canceling some student debt was one of the defining policy moves of his presidency — and it was championed by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who argued repeatedly that Biden’s approach was constitutional and would have a massive social benefit.
Now, though, the U.S. Supreme Court seems likely to toss out Biden’s debt-relief plan. If that happens, will Warren, Pressley and other progressives pay a political price? And what will the impact be, immediately and in the years to come, on the groups that would have gained most from debt relief? Adam Reilly tackles those topics with UMass Boston political scientist Travis Johnston, who thinks a Supreme Court rejection would turn debt relief into a Democratic rallying cry, and Massachusetts Nurses Association President Katie Murphy, who says the overturning of Biden’s plan could change the nursing landscape in Massachusetts for the worse. The two also discuss the recent finding, by Johnston and his UMass Boston colleague Erin O’Brien, that individuals carrying student debt are less likely to participate actively in the political process.
Tell us: What would the scuttling of Biden’s plan mean for you? And if you have student debt, what if any effect has it had on your engagement with the political process? While you’re at it, let us know if there are other topics you’d like to see explored on future episodes of Talking Politics. Send us a message at TalkingPolitics@wgbh.org. or fill out the form on the Talking Politics page.
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