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Conservative justices seem skeptical of Biden's student loan forgiveness plan
NBC News ^ | 2/28/2023 | Lawrence Hurley

Posted on 02/28/2023 10:40:28 AM PST by marcusmaximus

Conservative Supreme Court justices on Tuesday appeared skeptical about the legality of President Joe Biden's student loan debt relief plan, although questions remain as to whether the challengers have legal standing to sue.

-snip-

The justices could decide the case based on a legal argument made by the challengers that the Supreme Court has recently embraced called the “major questions doctrine.” Under that theory, federal agencies cannot initiate sweeping new policies that have a significant economic impact without having express authorization from Congress.

The conservative majority cited the major questions doctrine last year in blocking Biden’s Covid vaccination or test requirement for larger businesses and curbing the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to limit carbon emissions from power plants.

A key threshold question is whether any of the challengers have legal standing to sue in the first place. Many observers think that if the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, finds that the challengers had standing to sue, it will almost certainly then conclude that Biden’s plan is unlawful.

-snip-

Of the six conservative justices, only Justice Amy Coney Barrett repeatedly probed whether challengers had legal standing. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, two justices the Biden administration may have been targeting as potential votes against standing, focused their questions on the major questions doctrine. That could indicate they believe the challengers have standing.

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: supremecourt
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Of the six conservative justices, only Justice Amy Coney Barrett repeatedly probed whether challengers had legal standing.
1 posted on 02/28/2023 10:40:28 AM PST by marcusmaximus
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To: marcusmaximus

I look forward to the stupidest person on the court writing why responsible tax payers should bail out students’ debts. We all thought Sotomayor was stupid. KJB doesn’t even know if she is a woman or not.


2 posted on 02/28/2023 10:42:56 AM PST by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: marcusmaximus

“Under that theory, federal agencies cannot initiate sweeping new policies that have a significant economic impact without having express authorization from Congress.”

Gee, what a crazy, novel theory... to let the legislature do the legislating.


4 posted on 02/28/2023 11:03:42 AM PST by Boogieman
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To: marcusmaximus

How about they ask Kingsfield about “Contract Law”?
“The Paper Chase”.
“Mr Hart, can you explain under what conditions a contract can be nullified by an outside party not involved in the original contract?”


5 posted on 02/28/2023 11:06:12 AM PST by Zathras
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To: marcusmaximus

I paid all of my college tuition when I signed up for the classes. Will Xao Bi-Dung ask Hunter to reimburse this big guy?


6 posted on 02/28/2023 11:07:28 AM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: marcusmaximus

“Of the six conservative justices, only Justice Amy Coney Barrett repeatedly probed whether challengers had legal standing.”

A legit question. In cases before the court, plaintiffs have to prove they will suffer real and direct damage. Even liberal legal experts admit Student Load Forgiveness is probably not Constitutional.

The question is, will the states bringing suit suffer real financial damage as a result of Biden forgiving student loans. The main argument states are using is that they have debt collection programs for government loans that will lose revenue if the loans are forgiven. It’s a pretty weak argument, but looks like it will be enough to get a decision on the case from the court.


7 posted on 02/28/2023 11:11:39 AM PST by Roadrunner383
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To: MtnClimber

I paid my way as well while working a full time and part time (sometimes 2) when I was in college.
Do I get my money back?


8 posted on 02/28/2023 11:13:08 AM PST by TStro (Better to die on your feet than live on your knees)
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To: marcusmaximus

As I listened on Youtube, it occurred to me that this Court has little concept of its "checks and balances" responsibility against the Executive and Legislative branches while working on behalf of "We the People".

Sotomayor especially takes a stance that Congress must have thought of every possible contingency in the Heroes Act and meant to give the Secretary of Education the legal right to put the financial wants of those who borrowed to get an education (and thereafter receive the fruits of that financial risk) over and above the financial wants of those who paid out of pocket or did without. And because Congress gave away its authority to the Secretary of Education, it's legal and We the People have no standing to say otherwise.

Who is looking out for our Constitutional rights not to have our income socialized to an un-elected Secretary of Education picking financial winners and losers to the tune of 500 Billion dollars?


9 posted on 02/28/2023 11:13:11 AM PST by so_real ( "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.")
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To: TStro

I started with three jobs and then two after a year at the University of Florida College of Electrical Engineering.


10 posted on 02/28/2023 11:17:24 AM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: so_real

I guess we’ll find out in May or June.

Will the RATs play the blackmail cards again on Roberts and Kavanaugh to get the ruling they want? Barrett seems to be on board.


11 posted on 02/28/2023 11:18:37 AM PST by marcusmaximus
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To: MtnClimber
I started with three jobs and then two after a year at the University of Florida College of Electrical Engineering.

What you mean only three jobs, you lazy lima bean!

12 posted on 02/28/2023 11:19:49 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: dfwgator

I was coasting!


13 posted on 02/28/2023 11:23:17 AM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: marcusmaximus

I’m getting 404s when I go to https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2022 to look at the transcripts.


14 posted on 02/28/2023 12:06:48 PM PST by zeugma (Stop deluding yourself that America is still a free country.)
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To: zeugma

If this increases the debt and I have to pay taxes to pay the debt or its carrying cost am I damaged?


15 posted on 02/28/2023 12:28:49 PM PST by ActresponsiblyinVA
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To: marcusmaximus
Unfortunately for prognosticators, often appellate judges/justices will ask questions *contrary* to the way they're leaning, looking for holes in their own arguments.

Was in the appellate system as a lawyer for 30+ years, saw it happen at oral argument all the time. Sometimes they were leaning that way, sometimes not.

16 posted on 02/28/2023 1:40:33 PM PST by AnAmericanMother (Ecce Crucem Domini, fugite partes adversae. Vicit Leo de Tribu Iuda, Radix David, Alleluia!)
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To: ActresponsiblyinVA
If this increases the debt and I have to pay taxes to pay the debt or its carrying cost am I damaged?

Unfortunately, I don't think the court would accept something that indirect as a 'damage' for the purpose of Article III standing, though they should!

17 posted on 02/28/2023 2:52:38 PM PST by zeugma (Stop deluding yourself that America is still a free country.)
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To: AnAmericanMother
Unfortunately for prognosticators, often appellate judges/justices will ask questions *contrary* to the way they're leaning, looking for holes in their own arguments.

This is true. They don't always telegraph the way they are leaning with their questions. I still like reading through oral arguments anyway. You can learn a lot about the way they look at the law through the arguments. Unfortunately, I don't always have time to read through for a 200-300 page document.

18 posted on 02/28/2023 2:55:45 PM PST by zeugma (Stop deluding yourself that America is still a free country.)
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To: so_real
We the People have no standing to say otherwise.

Yep. Life gets easier when we accept that reality.

19 posted on 02/28/2023 5:30:17 PM PST by itsahoot (Many Republicans are secretly Democrats, no Democrats are secretly Republicans. Dan Bongino.)
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To: Roadrunner383

So who WOULD have “standing”? Congress?


20 posted on 02/28/2023 5:44:37 PM PST by Mr Rogers (We're a nation of feelings, not thoughts.)
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