We re seeing a lot more of these lawsuits where texas, for example, has filed almost 30 lawsuits challenging biden administration policies, where red states challenge blue president policies and blue states challenge red president policies. the supreme court has never actually blessed that. indeed, 100 years ago the court said we don t usually want states to be the lead plaintiffs because otherwise that will mean every single policy gets challenged in court right away. that s not the state s job. so one of the things really swirling around these cases today is whether the conservative justices because of their skepticism of this program are actually going to be inclined to allow states like nebraska, missouri, to lead challenges to this kind of policy. and, jim, if they do, it s only a matter of time before we will see an explosion in states from across the political spectrum, attorneys general from across the political spectrum, seeing it as their job.
Hello. i m abby phillip in washington. and happening right now, supreme court hearings underway that could effect millions of people who owe money on their student loans. justices are hearing arguments in two cases, challenging president biden s plan to wipe away more than $400 billion in student debt. six republican-led states and two individuals are challenging its legality. let s bring in cnn s jessica schneider and renee marsh. both are at the supreme court right now. jessica, i want to start with you first. it s no surprise, this is a conservative court. and so far, it sounds like they ve been pretty skeptical of the biden administration s argument so far. tell us about what s been happening. that s exactly right, abby. the conservative members of this court are really giving considerable pushback on the idea that president biden and his administration can even put into place this sweeping debt relief. they re really zeroing in on the price tag of this program, more than $400 pl
That emergency. but again, the conservative justices here, acting very skeptical. they re saying that this big of a program, $400 plus billion, should really be in the hands of congress. they asked about separation of powers, and then justice neil gorsuch and other conservative justices also touched on this idea of fairness. take a listen. what i think they argue that is missing is cost to other persons in terms of fairness, for example. people who have paid their loans. people who don t plan their lives around not seeking loans. and people who are not eligible for loans in the first place. and that half a trillion dollars is being diverted to one group of favored persons over others. we are hearing a lot of pushback from the conservatives in these ongoing arguments that are still ongoing now, just about three hours in. because, of course, these are two separate cases, brought by six republican led-states and also two individual people who
Cutting medicaid coverage. he will not compromise on these things that will impact millions of people across this country. but he s willing to have these discussions, but the republican congressional leaders have to come with a plan. it s not enough when you are in leadership to say, i am against everything that you are for. we are still waiting on a plan from these leaders. okay, i have to ask you, today, the supreme court is taking up two challenges to president biden s student loan forgiveness program. 26 million people have applied, 16 million were approved. that s a lot of people who are in limbo right now. what do they do if the court strikes this down? and i wonder if, you know, if you think that it s fair to say that perhaps they were given false hope putting this program into place. it was struck down after the president himself was the one who said, he didn t have the
Remind people, especially of when we know that we don t have anything else from leader mck mccarthy and other republicans to consider. we have to assume that potentially the affordable care act will be back on the table. and again, people have to remember how important this program is. this impacts millions upon millions of people who rely on medicare, social security, who we lie on medicare. these are important programs to everyday working american people, and so the president is taking his case right to the american people and hopefully by sharing this message with people across virginia and across the country, then hopefully this will not be on the table, but it s certainly worth a discussion at this point. well, look, the treasury secretary, janet yellen said just monday that these extraordinary measures that they re taking to extend the debt limit will expire in early june. that means, really, the talks