Biden’s clashes with the Supreme Court, thrice
President Biden’s Ongoing Battle with the Supreme Court
President Joe Biden has found himself in frequent clashes with the Supreme Court throughout his presidency. These conflicts have arisen due to his ambitious proposals and attempts to push his agenda forward.
Student Loans
One of Biden’s most significant proposals, unilateral debt forgiveness, was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court last year. However, this setback hasn’t stopped the president from pursuing other avenues to alleviate the burden of student loan debt.
In a landmark decision in June 2023, the Supreme Court struck down Biden’s attempt to forgive $400 billion in student debt. This ruling, with the Democratic-appointed justices in the minority, dealt a blow to Biden’s plan to use the HEROES Act to forgive up to $20,000 of federal student loans.
Undeterred by the court’s decision, Biden has since devised targeted cancellation plans to provide relief to specific groups of borrowers. Just recently, the White House announced that 153,000 borrowers owing $1.2 billion would receive student loan relief.
Abortion
The Supreme Court’s decision in June 2022 to overrule Roe v. Wade and return the authority to regulate abortion laws to the states sent shockwaves through the nation. Biden vehemently opposed this ruling, viewing it as an infringement on a “constitutional right.”
Recognizing the significance of the abortion issue, Biden has made it a central topic in the upcoming 2024 election. He is rallying support to restore the abortion policy established in the Roe decision.
Energy Policy
Biden’s energy policy has faced significant roadblocks due to the Supreme Court’s restrictions on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The court’s decisions have curtailed the EPA’s authority and hindered the implementation of Biden’s climate agenda.
In a 2022 ruling, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 to limit the EPA’s powers under the Clean Air Act, asserting that the agency had overstepped its boundaries. Another decision in 2023 further scaled back the EPA’s ability to regulate the “waters of the United States” broadly.
These decisions have significantly weakened the EPA’s ability to enforce Biden’s climate goals, causing frustration for the president.
As the Supreme Court continues to hear challenges, another clash between the court and the Biden administration may be on the horizon. The ongoing battle over the EPA’s “good neighbor” rule for limiting cross-state pollution is a prime example of the contentious issues at hand.
Despite these setbacks, President Biden remains determined to push forward with his agenda, even in the face of opposition from the highest court in the land.
How has the Supreme Court’s ruling on executive action regarding debt forgiveness impacted the student loan crisis?
Student loan debt per borrower. The Court held that such executive action would violate the Constitution’s separation of powers and encroach upon the authority of Congress to make laws regarding debt forgiveness.
Despite this setback, President Biden continues to explore other options to address the student loan crisis. In July 2023, he proposed a plan that would allow borrowers to have their student loan debt discharged through bankruptcy. This proposal would require legislative action rather than executive orders, and it remains to be seen how the Supreme Court would respond if such a law were enacted.
Vaccine Mandates
Another ongoing battle between President Biden and the Supreme Court revolves around vaccine mandates. In an effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, President Biden announced a series of mandates that would require federal workers, contractors, and large companies to have their employees vaccinated or undergo regular testing. This decision was met with legal challenges, and several states and organizations filed lawsuits against the mandates.
In November 2022, the Supreme Court heard arguments regarding the constitutionality of these vaccine mandates. The Court upheld the mandates in a 6-3 decision, stating that the public health and safety concerns outweighed any individual liberties arguments. However, the Court did indicate that the mandates would be subject to ongoing scrutiny based on evolving circumstances and data.
Since then, several states have continued to challenge the vaccine mandates, bringing the issue to lower courts. It is likely that these challenges will eventually make their way back to the Supreme Court, further fueling the ongoing battle between President Biden and the highest judicial authority in the country.
Executive Actions and Immigration
President Biden’s use of executive actions, particularly in the realm of immigration, has also faced scrutiny from the Supreme Court. Shortly after taking office, President Biden issued a series of executive orders aimed at reversing many of his predecessor’s immigration policies. These actions included halting construction of the border wall, ending the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and reinstating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
However, these executive actions have faced legal challenges, and the Supreme Court has been called upon to weigh in on their constitutionality. In June 2021, the Court ruled that President Biden’s decision to end the “Remain in Mexico” policy was unlawful, stating that it violated the Administrative Procedure Act.
This ruling, along with other legal challenges to President Biden’s immigration policies, highlights the ongoing conflict between the administration’s desire to reshape immigration policy and the Supreme Court’s role in interpreting the law.
Conclusion
President Biden’s ongoing battle with the Supreme Court underscores the tension between the executive and judicial branches of government. As he seeks to implement his agenda and address key issues facing the nation, he is met with legal obstacles that require careful consideration and adherence to the Constitution.
While President Biden has experienced setbacks in the form of Supreme Court rulings against his proposals, he remains determined to find alternative solutions and avenues to achieve his goals. The future of these ongoing battles will likely shape the legacy of the Biden presidency and have lasting implications for the balance of power between the executive and judicial branches.
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