Political Rewind: Can Georgians get relief from student loan debt? ; Kemp to testify in Fulton probe

Caption

Georgians owe a collective $68 billion in student loan debt.

Credit: GPB News File

The panel: 

David Schaefer, @BlancoBlau, research director, Georgia Budget & Policy Institute

Eric Sturgis, @EScoopStirgus, education editor, The Atlanta-Journal Constitution 

Maria Lumpkin, @mariaarvelo , Vice President for Strategic Initiatives & Chief Transformation Director, Stillman College

Patricia Murphy, @MurphyAJC, columnist, The Atlanta-Journal Constitution 

The breakdown:

1.  Where does Georgia stand when it comes to student loans? 

• Eric Sturgis says that Georgians are at $68 billion in debt. 
• Student loan payments have been suspended since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, but are slated to go back in effect on Sept. 1. 
• David Schaefer says many older individuals are trying to clear debt, not just young borrowers. 

2. Communities of color borrow much more 

• Black college graduates owe an average of $25,000 more in student loan debt than White college graduates.
• Student loan debt cannot be erased via bankruptcy. 

3. Will President Biden push to erase student loan debt?

• Right now, President Biden is facing mounting pressure to cancel student loans debt. 
  • He campaigned on canceling at least $10,000 of student debt per person.
  • Biden's approval rate sits at a dismal low of 30% causing top democrats like Sen. Raphael Warnock to distance themselves from the administration.
    • • Only 26% of Democrats are in favor of Biden running in 2024, but student loan cancellation could lure swing state voters to the polls. 

• Unsurprisingly, the push to cancel student loans goes along party lines. Georgia's U.S. Representatives have divergent views on student loan forgiveness. 

  • U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams proposed a consolidation act in May.

  • Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Drew Furgeson wants borrowers to pay back things themselves.

4. Kemp to testify in the Fulton County probe. 

• District Attorney Fani Willis is leading an investigation into Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election. 
  • The governor will deliver a sworn video statement today. 

Tuesday on Political Rewind: Host Bill Nigut returns.