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WASHINGTON — Sen. Mitt Romney called President Joe Biden's loan forgiveness plan a "bribe" to win votes for Democrats.
"Sad to see what's being done to bribe the voters," the Utah Republican tweeted Wednesday.
"Biden's student loan forgiveness plan may win Democrats some votes, but it fuels inflation, foots taxpayers with other people's financial obligations, is unfair to those who paid their own way & creates irresponsible expectations."
Sad to see what's being done to bribe the voters. Biden's student loan forgiveness plan may win Democrats some votes, but it fuels inflation, foots taxpayers with other people's financial obligations, is unfair to those who paid their own way & creates irresponsible expectations.
— Senator Mitt Romney (@SenatorRomney) August 24, 2022
Biden announced Wednesday that student loan borrowers who make less than $125,000 annually would have $10,000 of their student loans forgiven. Borrowers who went to college on Pell Grants may receive up to $20,000 in debt cancellation.
"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," the president said in a tweet.
Romney wasn't the only member of Utah's congressional delegation to pan Biden's plan.
President Biden's announcement isn't a real solution because it doesn't get to the root of the problem. University costs continue to skyrocket. Student loan forgiveness only places the brunt of its financial consequences on the next generation. #utpolpic.twitter.com/VvFAYVwrqf
— Congressman Blake Moore (@RepBlakeMoore) August 24, 2022
Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, issued a statement in which he said "On behalf of the Biden Administration, I apologize to all the plumbers, electricians, welders, mechanics" and others who built businesses after paying their way through school or other programs "only to have their hard-earned dollars transferred to folks who have chosen a different career path that required carrying some debt."
The plan, he said, isn't a real solution because it doesn't get to the root of the problem as university costs continue to skyrocket.
Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said Biden's "plan" will further fan the flames of inflation, ignore the rising cost of higher education, disproportionately favor the wealthy and create greater income inequality.
This "plan" from the Biden Administration will:
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) August 24, 2022
- Further fan the flames of inflation.
- Ignore the rising cost of higher education.
- Disproportionately favor the wealthy.
- Create greater income inequality. https://t.co/c92LR5UphR
Wednesday wasn't the first time Romney called the student loan forgiveness plan a bribe, and wondered in April what Biden would do next to prop up his sagging approval rating.
"Desperate polls call for desperate measures: Dems consider forgiving trillions in student loans. Other bribe suggestions: Forgive auto loans? Forgive credit card debt? Forgive mortgages? And put a wealth tax on the super-rich to pay for it all. What could possibly go wrong?" Romney tweeted in April.
