PHOENIX – The cancellation of student debt has been a hot topic of discussion for a long time. Today, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren are leading the charge, calling on President Joe Biden to make this happen. produce.

“We are here today to present our proposal to write off $ 50,000 in student debt,” said Senator Schumer.

Senator Schumer said executive action in this direction would boost the country’s economy and ease the financial burden on many Americans. Currently, the country’s student debt balance is $ 1.68 trillion, the highest in history.

Since taking office on Jan.20, President Biden has already signed nearly 30 executive orders, including suspending student loan payments. According to an Associated Press report, President Biden previously said he supported the erasure of student debt of up to $ 10,000 through legislation, but he had not shown interest in executive action.

Meanwhile, legal scholars have fallen on either side of whether President Biden himself has the power to grant loan relief, with some saying the move is unlikely to survive a court challenge.

ASU students speak out

As government leaders debate student loan relief, students nearing graduation from Arizona State University are ringing the bell.

“With the pandemic and with the climate in our country and just with the current economic situation, I think the students deserve a little forgiveness,” said Lauren Loucks, graduate student at ASU.

“I’m going to have over $ 150,000 in debt,” said law student Katarina Hernandez, who will graduate in two years. “It’s going to be difficult. I’m trying to jumpstart my career a bit.”

Some students, however, disagree with the student loan cancellation.

“My significant other, he got into the trades and he’s making a lot more money than I’m going to make in college, so I don’t think taxpayers should have to foot the bill to pay my choice,” said Chelsey Aubol Srinsky. She says she will have $ 30,000 in debt when she enters the workforce.

Some students, like law student Nik Thompson, say they’ll believe him when they see him.

“That’s why I’m here at law school, trying to make some money to pay it off, so we’ll see what happens,” Thompson said.