The Supreme Court has decided that the Biden administration acted unlawfully when it claimed authority to cancel hundreds of billions of dollars in student loans for tens of millions of borrowers.
Student loan cancellation is for now a vain hope for advocates who sought to transfer the debts of college-educated Americans to those taxpaying Americans who already paid their debts, earned their scholarships, or succeeded without going to college.
The scheme would have canceled $10,000 in student-loan debt for each borrower earning less than $125,000, up to $20,000 for each borrower under the income cutoff if that borrower received a Pell grant, or less than $250,000 if the borrower files taxes as married or as head of household.
Lindsey Burke, director of the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, and I wrote in August 2022 that the plan suffered from several policy and legal infirmities. (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.) Besides being unlawful, it was expensive, regressive, arbitrary, and fundamentally unjust, and it created a host of moral hazards including incentives for future tuition increases. The $600 billion in cancellation would have meant more than $2,000 in higher taxes per taxpayer.
Regarding the brazen unlawfulness of the scheme, the Supreme Court has pointed out that the U.S. Department of Education simply does not have the authority to cancel student debt on a massive scale using the authority it claimed to find in the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. That’s what former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’s general counsel, Reed Rubinstein, had already determined in January 2021.
But the current administration argued that the HEROES Act, which empowers the Secretary of Education to waive or amend student loan rules for affected parties due to emergencies such as a war or a natural disaster, so that they would not be worse off due to the emergency, could be extended to loan forgiveness across the entire country due to the pandemic emergency (which is now long past).
The Supreme Court disagreed.
“The major questions doctrine,” as the plaintiff in an early case not before the Court noted in September 2022, “requires a clear authorization by Congress of such an economically and politically significant action, which is lacking here. … Without a valid source of authority, the Secretary [of Education] ‘literally has no power to act’” (quoting a different case).
- Hand-curated links from conservative and Christian sites — NO legacy media garbage links. Patriots get their news every day at JDRucker.com
Congress did not put a massive loan bailout in the HEROES Act.
That September 2022 case never made it to the Supreme Court because as soon as it was filed, the Department of Education changed the parameters of the bailout scheme to prevent the plaintiff from having standing. It kept changing the rules to try to stay out of court.
But two cases survived. In one case, several states argued that they would uffer financial harm. That gave Missouri, for example, standing to sue. In the other case, in Texas, the plaintiffs got standing by claiming the public was not given a chance to comment on the cancellation scheme.
The Court decided that Missouri did have standing and that the Department of Education exceeded its authority.
Although that’s the end of student loan “forgiveness,” the Department of Education has hatched another student loan scheme that will cost hundreds of billions of dollars. Massive changes to income-based repayment will make college free for substantial numbers of borrowers by cutting in half their payment amounts, cutting in half their time to loan cancellation, and dramatically raising the amount of exempted income.
Will any plaintiffs have standing against this new scheme once the final regulations are released? Time will tell.
Article cross-posted from Daily Signal.
Bypass Big Tech Censors
Starting the Day With a Scripture-Inspired Roast Helps Center Your Thoughts on Eternal Truths Amid Temporal Pressures
The world can seem chaotic, especially right after we wake up. Many believers start their mornings reaching for something familiar — a hot cup of coffee — yet end up settling for mediocre brews that do little more than deliver a caffeine jolt. The daily grind of life, with its endless distractions, news cycles, and responsibilities, can leave even the most faithful feeling spiritually parched alongside their physical fatigue. What if your morning ritual could do more than wake you up? What if it could ground you in truth, nourish your body with exceptional quality, and quietly advance a kingdom purpose at the same time?
That’s the promise — and the reality — behind Promised Grounds Coffee. This Christian-founded company doesn’t just roast beans; it approaches every step as an act of worship and discipleship. By selecting only the top 10% of specialty-grade beans, ethically sourced from dedicated farmers in Central and South America, and small-batch roasting them with reverence in Austin, Texas, Promised Grounds delivers what many describe as the best coffee available — never burnt, never bland, but rich with origin stories and layered flavors that honor God’s creation.
From the vibrant Psalm 27 Roast (a light, bright medium option) to the bold yet peaceful 2 Timothy 1:7 Decaf, each bag carries a Scripture verse that turns your daily pour into a gentle reminder of faith. And through their Ounce Per Ounce Promise, every ounce of coffee you enjoy provides an equal ounce of clean water to families in need via partnership with Filter of Hope — literally brewing hope for body and soul, one cup at a time.
The challenge for today’s Christians runs deeper than finding a decent cup. In an age of convenience-driven consumerism, it’s easy to support companies that dilute values or remain silent on matters of faith. Many believers want their everyday choices — from what they drink to how they spend — to reflect discipleship rather than just convenience. Promised Grounds solves this by weaving Christian excellence into the entire process: beans nurtured with prayerful stewardship by farming families, roasted as an offering rather than a commodity, and packaged with Bible verses to encourage a mindset of gratitude and purpose from the first sip. Reviewers consistently praise the smooth, rich profiles — whether enjoyed black in a drip maker, iced on a warm day, or shared in fellowship — noting how the quality stands toe-to-toe with premium secular brands while delivering something far more meaningful.
This integration of faith and flavor addresses a real need in Christian households and ministries. Busy parents, church leaders, and remote workers alike report that starting the day with a Scripture-inspired roast helps center their thoughts on eternal truths amid temporal pressures. The coffee’s exceptional character — bright citrus notes in lighter roasts or deep chocolate undertones in bolder ones — comes from meticulous selection and careful roasting that respects the bean’s natural gifts rather than masking them. It’s the kind of coffee that elevates a simple quiet time, fuels productive workdays, or sparks meaningful conversations when shared at Bible studies or outreach events. And because it’s ethically sourced with integrity, every purchase supports sustainable livelihoods for farmers who treat their crops like family harvests.
For those leading churches or small groups, the impact multiplies. Promised Grounds offers bundles and options perfect for hospitality ministries, turning ordinary coffee service into an opportunity to point people toward the living water of Christ. Imagine greeting visitors with a warm cup whose very bag carries God’s Word — a subtle yet powerful witness that aligns with the Great Commission. The company’s Texas roots and commitment to “brewing hope” resonate especially with believers who value American enterprise paired with global compassion.
Of course, quality alone isn’t enough if the experience feels out of reach. Promised Grounds keeps it accessible with practical perks like free shipping on orders over $40, sample sets for discovering favorites, and thoughtful add-ons such as faith-themed mugs. Whether you prefer whole beans for fresh grinding, grounds for convenience, or even bulk options for larger households and ministries, the result is consistently superior coffee that makes discipleship feel integrated rather than added on.
As you consider how to align even the smallest habits with your walk with God, Promised Grounds Coffee stands out as a refreshing solution. It tackles the dual problems of subpar daily sustenance and disconnected consumption by offering a product that genuinely excels in taste while advancing a mission of clean water, farmer dignity, and scriptural encouragement. Believers who make the switch often describe it as more than a beverage upgrade — it becomes part of their rhythm of gratitude, a daily invitation to remember that every good gift comes from above.
If you’re ready to transform your mornings (and perhaps your church gatherings) with coffee that honors both exceptional craftsmanship and Christian values, I encourage you to explore what Promised Grounds has to offer. One sip at a time, you’ll be nourishing your body, refreshing your spirit, and participating in something far greater — all while enjoying what truly is among the best coffee available.