(The Hill) — President Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan was dealt a win by a Georgia judge this week by removing one Republican challenger and letting the program advance for now after a temporary restraining order expires.
U.S. District Judge J. Randal Hall said Wednesday that Georgia does not have standing to sue because it could not show it would be adequately harmed by Biden’s $73 billion student loan forgiveness plan, despite arguments the plan would hurt its tax revenue.
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The ruling came one day before the temporary restraining order would expire, allowing the administration to continue the program while the case is moved to Missouri.
Missouri, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, North Dakota and Ohio originally sued the Biden administration after new regulations were proposed this year to help more than 27 million borrowers receive full or partial loan forgiveness.
“Without standing, Georgia cannot provide the proper venue for suit because a plaintiff that lacks standing cannot create venue where it would not otherwise exist,” Hall wrote.
The judge has transferred the case to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, with the states already asking the new judge to make a ruling by Friday on whether to block the program or not, Reuters reported.
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“While we appreciate the District Court’s acknowledgement that this case has no legal basis to be brought in Georgia, the fact remains that this lawsuit reflects an ongoing effort by Republican elected officials who want to prevent millions of their own constituents from getting breathing room on their student loans,” an Education Department spokesperson said in a statement. “We will continue our lawful efforts to deliver relief to more Americans, including by vigorously defending these proposals in court.”
The Hill has reached out to the office of the governor of Missouri for comment.
