House Democrats backing college loan forgiveness owe boatloads in student debt
- August 28, 2023
Gabe Kaminsky, Washington Examiner
Congressional Democrats calling for widespread student loan forgiveness owe major sums in educational debt, according to a Washington Examiner analysis of newly released financial disclosures.
A total of 14 Democratic members of Congress, who are an average of 45 years old and include the likes of “Squad” Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), reported on 2022 filings holding up to $1.7 million combined in their own or a family member’s student debt. That these same politicians have also urged President Joe Biden to waive away college loans on the backs of taxpayers presents an apparent conflict of interest, ethics experts and a top Republican lawmaker say.
“This is little different from officials advocating or voting for policies that benefit companies in which they own stock,” Michael Chamberlain, director of the watchdog group Protect the Public’s Trust, told the Washington Examiner. “Some people may even consider it worse, perhaps, because it’s at the direct expense of taxpayers.
“Regardless of the wisdom of the policy, certainly those who could gain personally from it should think about taking a step back from leading on the issue,” he said.