I get what you’re saying but let’s not forget this important aspect:
The Republican-led bill tightened the bankruptcy code, unleashing a huge giveaway to lenders at the expense of indebted student borrowers. At the time it faced vociferous opposition from 25 Democrats in the US Senate.
But it passed anyway, with 18 Democratic senators breaking ranks and casting their vote in favor of the bill.
republican bill, that was opposed vociferously by a majority of democrats. The corporatists were the 18 that broke ranks to vote for it, but let’s not lump in all Democrats. Democrats are still the better option by every measure.
Here’s some quotes from an article on this subject:
But it passed anyway, with 18 Democratic senators breaking ranks and casting their vote in favor of the bill. Of those 18, one politician stood out as an especially enthusiastic champion of the credit companies who, as it happens, had given him hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions – Joe Biden.
Despite his protestations, it is indisputable that Biden was an avid supporter of the 2005 bill as a whole and of its overall thrust of tightening up the bankruptcy code largely to the benefit of lenders at the expense of distressed families who would find it harder to file for bankruptcy.
“Biden was one of the most powerful people who could have said no, who could have changed this. Instead he used his leadership role to limit the ability of other Democrats who had concerns and who wanted the bill softened,” said Melissa Jacoby, a law professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill specialising in bankruptcy.
I never defended Biden, I said that it was disingenuous of you to lump all Democrats together with republicans like they’re on the same side of the issue.
I get what you’re saying but let’s not forget this important aspect:
republican bill, that was opposed vociferously by a majority of democrats. The corporatists were the 18 that broke ranks to vote for it, but let’s not lump in all Democrats. Democrats are still the better option by every measure.
The BILL WAS
WRITTEN BY BIDEN HIMSELF.
edit: This is an unsubstantiated statement (though I previously read this in an article which has now disappeared from the web).
That’s a blatant lie.
It was written by Chuck Grassley and cosponsored by 10 other republicans, and two democrats (Ben Nelson-NE and Thomas Carper-DE)
I read somewhere that he wrote it. It was a reliable news article actually…aaaaaand it disappeared.
Anyway, he certainly was instrumental in helping write it. I think you’re trying to downplay his role in it. He was THE champion of the bill and Hunter got $250,000 paycheck from MBNA the following year. Explain that for us.
Here’s some quotes from an article on this subject:
https://jacobin.com/2022/04/joe-biden-student-loan-debt-bankruptcy-democrats
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mbna-paid-bidens-son-as-biden-backed-bill/
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/us/politics/25biden.html
https://oversight.house.gov/release/comer-releases-evidence-of-direct-payment-to-joe-biden/
https://www.propublica.org/article/bidens-cozy-relations-with-bank-industry-825
https://www.nationalreview.com/2008/08/senator-mbna-byron-york/amp/
Ps. But he’s a decent man™️©️
Ok.
I never defended Biden, I said that it was disingenuous of you to lump all Democrats together with republicans like they’re on the same side of the issue.
And looks like he has since evolved his stance on the issue, and is actively trying to help student loan borrowers. Which is 1000x more than what republicans would ever do.