Sanders proposes canceling $1.6 trillion in US student debt

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a top-tier 2020 presidential candidate, rolled out legislation on Monday to cancel $1.6 trillion in outstanding student debt for 45 million borrowers. 

The legislation, which is being co-sponsored by Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, also calls for public universities, community colleges and trade schools to go tuition free. 

The bill will also propose absolving student debt for undergrad and graduate students. 

A Wall Street tax, which would include taxes on stock transactions, bond trades, and derivatives transactions, will pay for the legislation by collecting $2 trillion over a decade. 

“During the financial crisis, Wall Street received the largest taxpayer bailout in American history. Now it is Wall Street’s turn to help rebuild the disappearing middle class,” Sanders tweeted on Monday. 

During the financial crisis, Wall Street received the largest taxpayer bailout in American history. Now it is Wall Street’s turn to help rebuild the disappearing middle class. #CancelStudentDebt

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 24, 2019

News of the legislation was first reported by The Washington Post on Sunday. 

Sanders’s presidential primary opponent and fellow progressive Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) announced legislation earlier this month to wipe out nearly all student loan debt in the country. 

Warren’s plan would forgive up to $50,000 in student loan debt for anyone with a total household income below $100,000.

Through Warren’s plan, a wealth tax would pay for debt forgiveness. 

The two senators’ plans to combat student debt could be targeted at the progressive wing’s generally young base, grappling with student debt.