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Biden’s Student Debt Relief Plan Blocked by Courts

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Biden's Student Debt Relief Plan Blocked by Courts

(CTN News) – Legal challenges to President Joe Biden’s student debt reduction attempts have resurfaced, and recent verdicts are negative for his new repayment plan.

On Monday evening, district courts in Kansas and Missouri blocked sections of the new SAVE income-driven repayment plan, which was established last summer to provide borrowers with more reasonable payments and a shorter deadline for loan forgiveness.

The first lawsuit was filed in March in Kansas by 11 GOP state attorneys general, while the second was filed in April in Missouri by seven GOP state attorneys general. In both cases, the plaintiffs asked the courts to prohibit the SAVE plan and the loan forgiveness that comes with it, claiming that the relief exceeds the administration’s power.

The district court opinions issued on Monday were different, but both dealt a blow to the SAVE plan. Kansas Judge Daniel Crabtree ordered that new SAVE measures, such as decreased monthly payments, cannot be adopted while the legal process moves forward.

Impact on Student Debt Borrowers

Missouri Judge John Ross found that the plan’s provision to eliminate student debt for students with original sums of $12,000 or fewer, who qualified within 10 years, is now also barred.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona decried the rulings on Monday, stating that “the Department of Justice will continue to vigorously defend the SAVE Plan.”

“Republican elected officials and special interests sued to block their own constituents from being able to benefit from this plan – even though the Department has relied on the authority under the Higher Education Act three times over the last 30 years to implement income-driven repayment plans,” Cardona wrote.

“While we continue to review these rulings, the SAVE plan still means lower monthly payments for millions of borrowers – including more than 4 million borrowers who owe no payments at all, and protections for borrowers facing runaway interest when they are making their monthly payments,” said the attorney general.

Here’s what borrowers need to know about the verdicts.

Borrowers with student loans who have previously enrolled in SAVE can continue paying the payments outlined in the plan. However, the additional measures slated to take effect on July 1 — such as halving undergraduate borrowers’ payments and providing forgiveness credit for periods of deferment and forbearance — have been blocked.

Here’s why. Kansas’ Crabtree decided in favor of the attorneys general, citing the SAVE plan’s monthly payment cap and shorter forgiving period as “overreaching any generosity Congress has authorized before.”

However, Crabtree determined to keep SAVE components that had already gone into effect since the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate how they were harmed by parts of the plan that were already in existence.

For example, in June 2023, the Education Department disclosed its proposal to cap monthly payments and a shorter period for forgiveness, giving attorneys general time to fight the plan.

“All of this is to ask why: if these parts of the SAVE Plan promised an irreparable harm to plaintiffs, why didn’t they move to enjoin the SAVE Plan before they took effect?” Crabtree wrote.

However, with regard to the new SAVE measures slated to take effect on July 1, Crabtree decided that the plaintiffs succeeded in demonstrating injury because there was no delay in contesting the plan’s unimplemented elements, and any future remedies would be irreversible.

Rather than reversing or changing any SAVE provisions that have already been implemented, Crabtree chose to freeze any additional measures that have yet to be implemented until the court renders a final ruling.

While thousands of students have already received student loan forgiveness through the SAVE provision, which eliminates debt for borrowers with original sums of $12,000 or less, no new borrowers will be eligible for relief for the time being.

Missouri’s Ross issued a different ruling on SAVE. Missouri’s contention that the plan will hurt student-loan firm MOHELA due to reduced revenue has standing, considering the Supreme Court had rejected Biden’s first attempt at sweeping debt relief last summer.

Regarding the fate of SAVE, Ross concluded that while SAVE’s previously implemented components can continue, any future student loan forgiveness through the plan is prohibited.

He wrote that Congress did not account for the scope of loan forgiveness under SAVE, and as a result, the attorneys general have “a ‘fair chance’ of success on the merits on their claim that the Secretary has overstepped its authority by promulgating a loan forgiveness provision as part of the SAVE program.”

He also stated that even without student debt forgiveness, other elements such as lower payments and limited interest accrual will benefit borrowers. Because the attorneys general could not adequately show why the other clauses should be barred, Crabtree stated that he would only issue a preliminary injunction on debt cancellation.

Cardona announced on Tuesday that the Justice Department will appeal the rulings.

According to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the Education Department will continue to enroll more Americans in SAVE. The plan offers benefits such as $0 payments for those earning $16 per hour or less, lower monthly payments for millions more borrowers, and protection from runaway interest for those making monthly payments.

SEE ALSO: Presidential Debate Preview: Biden vs Trump Face Off in Atlanta

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Ana Wong
Ana Wong is a sharp and insightful journalist known for her in-depth reporting on tech and finance. With a knack for breaking down complex topics, she makes them accessible for everyday readers.

Politics

Hamas Calls for Peace After Trump Wins Election

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Hamas, Trump
Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian National Authority, congratulated Trump on his election victory

After former President Donald Trump’s election victory, a senior Hamas official issued a statement in which he called for the immediate cessation of Israel’s war against the group in Gaza and a strategy to achieve Palestinian statehood.

“The election of Trump as the 47th president of the USA is a private matter for the Americans,” the political bureau member and spokesperson for Hamas, Basem Naim, told The Washington Post.

Palestinians look forward to an immediate cessation of the aggression against our people, especially in Gaza, and look for assistance in achieving their legitimate rights of freedom, independence, and the establishment of their independent self-sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

“The blind support for the Zionist entity ‘Israel’ and its fascist government, at the expense of the future of our people and the security and stability of the region, must stop immediately,” according to him.

During his tenure in office, Trump developed a close relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently involved in a multi-front war against the Iran-aligned Axis of Resistance. This conflict commenced with a large-scale Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023.

An Israeli official informed Newsweek that “the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel has been a bipartisan feature of American politics since the founding of the Jewish state” when contacted for comment.

Netanyahu congratulates Trump

The Israeli official stated, “We are certain that this will persist.” “Going forward, we look forward to a strong working relationship with his administration to bring about a more peaceful, secure and prosperous Middle East.”

President Joe Biden and Netanyahu disagreed regarding the war’s progression despite substantial U.S. military assistance. Consequently, Netanyahu was the first to congratulate Trump on “history’s greatest comeback.”

In his statement on Wednesday, Netanyahu declared, “Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.”

Afterward, Netanyahu conversed with Trump. The Israeli side characterized the conversation as a “warm and cordial” exchange in which the two “agreed to work together for Israel’s security and also discussed the Iranian threat.”

The Israel-Hamas war, which has since expanded to include an Israeli air and land offensive against the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, strikes from other Axis of Resistance factions in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, and even direct exchanges of strikes between Israel and Iran, has served as a polarizing foreign policy issue in the United States.

Biden has been accused by Israel supporters of not doing enough to aid the U.S. ally and by pro-Palestinian factions of failing to sufficiently rein in Netanyahu, despite his continued provision of military assistance to Israel and his advocacy for greater safeguards to mitigate civilian harm.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign largely mirrored the Biden administration’s stance, calling for peace and expressing empathy for the plight of civilians entangled in the conflict. However, she rejected any demands to withhold arms sales to Israel.

Hamas Issues Statement

Additionally, Hamas issued a statement on Wednesday that urged the United States to “cease providing military support and political cover to the Zionist entity and to recognize the legitimate rights of our people.” The statement also called for an end to Israel’s campaign in Lebanon.

“The American president-elect is required to listen to the voices that have been raised from American society itself for more than a year regarding the Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip,” according to the statement, “rejecting the occupation and genocide, and objecting to support and bias toward the Zionist entity.”

On Wednesday, Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian National Authority, congratulated Trump on his election victory. Abbas is the leader of the West Bank-based government that competes with Hamas, which is based in Gaza.

The Palestine News and Information Agency (WAFA) released a statement in which Abbas expressed “his aspiration to collaborate with President Trump to promote peace and security in the region” and underscored “the dedication of our people to the pursuit of statehood, self-determination, and freedom in compliance with international law.”

Abbas was reported to have said, “We will remain steadfast in our commitment to peace,” and we are confident that under your leadership, the United States will support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.”

While in office, both Hamas and Abbas had frequently denounced Trump’s Middle East policies, such as his 2018 decision to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed city of Jerusalem and his 2020 proposal to resolve the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Abraham Accords

The proposal, which was widely referred to as the “deal of the century,” would have conferred Israel control over occupied areas along the Jordanian border and internationally unrecognized Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Hamas and other Palestinian factions would be disarmed, Palestinians would acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state, refrain from participating in any international organizations without Israeli consent, and receive the right to access international investments and a portion of the desert territory along the Israel-Egypt border.

In addition, the proposition proposed the construction of a tunnel connecting Gaza and the West Bank, one of its most ambitious moves.

Even though the Arab world did not support the plan, Trump successfully oversaw the Abraham Accords later that year, establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco.

The U.S. withdrawal from a multilateral nuclear agreement in 2018 and the U.S. killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force chief Major General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq in 2020 were also significant factors in the sharp increase in tensions between Washington and Tehran that Trump oversaw.

The Republican leader has since accused Biden and Harris of being too lenient toward Iran and has consistently maintained that the war in Hamas would not have occurred under his presidency. In the meantime, Trump has accused his Democratic opponents of attempting to incite a more extensive conflict in the Middle East, a course of action that he has pledged to avoid.

Trump stated during his election night victory speech, “We desire a robust and capable military, and we would prefer not to employ it.” He also said, “You are aware that we did not experience any wars for four years.” There were no conflicts. Except for the fact that we defeated ISIS, we did so in record time.

“They predicted that he would initiate a conflict.” “I will not initiate a war,” Trump declared in the early hours of Wednesday. “I’m going to stop wars.”

Source: Newsweek

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Past Trump Rhetoric By Trudeau May Hurt Canadians

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Trump and Trudeau's relationship is not particularly cordial

On Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau quickly congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his election victory, saying the friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world. However, there is no friendship between the two leaders.

During Trump’s previous presidency, the two leaders engaged in a series of disagreements regarding numerous matters. Trump and Trudeau’s relationship is not particularly cordial, as evidenced by their involvement in a verbal conflict and their significant policy changes that have had a detrimental impact on Canada’s economy.

Trump has referred to Trudeau as a “far-left lunatic” and “two-faced,” and Trudeau once appeared to ridicule Trump at a NATO leaders’ meeting in 2019.

Donald Trump’s significant victory in the presidential election is unfavorable to Justin Trudeau, who has disparaged Trump for the past four years, accusing him of everything from racism to homophobia to advance his political position.

Trudeau has been brazenly exploiting Trump and Trumpism as a bogeyman purportedly concealed within the Conservative movement.

In December, Trudeau stated to The Canadian Press, “What we are witnessing from these MAGA conservatives is an approach that undermines fundamental rights.”

Trudeau declared in January that Canada would experience a “regression” if another Trump presidency were to occur.

Now that Trump has returned, Trudeau’s remarks will be remembered, which could result in significant difficulties for the prime minister, who is already grappling with a leadership crisis.

Trudeau’s previous statements may impede the establishment of a robust, rekindled relationship with the impending Trump administration, which will ultimately be detrimental to Canadians.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland emphasized the “enduring relationships—I would even say even friendships” that Canadian officials have with their US counterparts to anticipate potential retaliation.

“Canada will be prosperous, Canadians will be safe and our sovereign identity will be secure as we work with this newly elected administration,” according to her.

Trump’s strained relationship with Justin Trudeau could further exacerbate Canada’s already challenging circumstances in terms of its social, economic, and environmental well-being.

Trudeau asserts that Canada is prepared for a second Donald Trump presidency despite the prevailing uncertainty regarding his strategy for managing Trump’s forthcoming agenda.

Nevertheless, the primary campaign issues are the declining economy and the recent rapid increase in the cost of living in Canada. These issues occur in diplomatic disputes with China and India, which have impeded efforts to diversify trade.

Trump’s victory could significantly influence Canadian politics by raising the Liberals’ hysteria for the upcoming year until the elections.

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Geoffrey Thomas is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills and deep understanding of SEO, he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Thomas' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.
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A Trump Presidency Spells Disaster for Trudeau

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Trump destabilized Canada in 2016. Trudeau doesn’t want it to happen again.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Donald Trump on his successful reconquest of the U.S. presidency.

“The partnership between the United States and Canada is the most successful in the world.” A shared history, common values, and steadfast ties between our peoples unite us as neighbors and companions. Trudeau also stated that our economies are profoundly interconnected and are each other’s largest trade partners.

“We look forward to working with President-elect Trump and his administration, including on issues such as trade, investment, and continental peace and security,” he said.

Trudeau later told reporters on Parliament Hill that Trump won a “decisive” victory in Tuesday’s presidential election. He emphasized that Canada’s responsibility is to establish common ground with the incoming president, as Trump does not support Trudeau’s climate or immigration policies.

Trudeau fears Trump

However, in January of the previous year, Trudeau stated that Canada would face significant challenges if Trump were to secure a second term. “It was challenging the first time, and it will be challenging again if there is a second time,” stated Trudeau.

Donald Trump’s victory gives him the authority to advance an agenda heavily reliant on protectionist policies. This could potentially significantly impact long-standing allies such as Canada.

Trump has pledged to impose tariffs on all imports, which experts say would result in a billion-dollar reduction in Canada’s GDP.

Trump has pledged to impose a minimum 10% tariff on all imports and an even higher rate of 60% on Chinese-made products, although he has not disclosed numerous specifics regarding this proposed regime.

He has stated that imposing a punitive tax on foreign goods will reduce the competitiveness of products abroad and encourage domestic manufacturing. Additionally, he has proposed using tariffs to extract trade and other concessions from countries he accuses of defrauding the United States.

High-profile tensions, particularly about ideological conflicts and trade disputes, were notably evident in Donald Trump’s relationship with Justin Trudeau during his former presidency.

During his flight to Singapore in 2018, Trump abruptly withdrew the United States from the G7’s joint communique and referred to Trudeau as “very dishonest and weak.”

In 2019, Trump and Trudeau were again at variance during a NATO Summit in London. Trudeau was captured on video appearing to discuss Trump’s unpredictable behavior with other world leaders.

Trump responded by labeling Trudeau “two-faced” and criticizing Canada for failing to meet NATO’s 2% defense expenditure objective. He characterized Trudeau as a “nice guy” but expressed dissatisfaction with Canada’s contributions.

Economic Disaster

Despite Trump’s absence from office, the disparities persisted. In a 2023 interview, Trudeau drew comparisons between the “Make America Great Again” movement of Trump and the Conservative leaders in Canada, implying that there is a possibility of a reduction in rights related to LGBTQ and abortion.

He expressed apprehensions regarding a populist surge, asserting that “The threat is real,” and cited Trump’s policies as examples of a “regression” in democratic values.

Trump, on the other hand, referred to Trudeau as a “far-left lunatic” and supported the freedom convoy that was protesting the Canadian government’s anti-vaccine mandate.

“The Freedom Convoy is peacefully protesting the harsh policies of far-left lunatic Justin Trudeau, who has destroyed Canada with insane Covid mandates,” stated Trump.

Trump’s victory adds to Trudeau’s woes when polls show he would likely lose to his Conservative opponent in an election that must be held within a year.

In diplomatic disputes with China and India that have impeded efforts to diversify trade, Canada’s declining economy and a rapid increase in the cost of living over the past few years are the primary campaign issues.

Analysts at Desjardins Economics anticipate that Donald Trump’s policies will lead to a 1.7% decline in the real Canadian gross domestic product by the end of 2028, compared with those of a Democratic president.

According to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, President Trump’s proposed 10% tariff would result in a 0.9% annual decrease in Canada’s real income and a nearly 1% decrease in labor productivity.

The chamber stated that if other countries retaliated, real income would decrease by 1.5% annually, and labor productivity would decrease by nearly 1.6% annually, initiating a trade war.

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Geoff Thomas
Geoffrey Thomas is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills and deep understanding of SEO, he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Thomas' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.
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