Heidi Alexander: “The question before the Senate is, Shall we spend the next week on a political stunt that gives some students $1 a day…”

“The question before the Senate is, Shall we spend the next week on a political stunt that gives some students $1 a day to pay off a student loan or shall we move to a bipartisan solution for veterans who are lined up at clinics and hospitals across the country in a way that shocks Senators on both sides of the aisle? That is the issue. The proposal before the Senate is not a serious proposal. There is nothing in it for current or future students. It is a $1 a day subsidy to pay off a $27,000 loan. What are we going to do next week--raise taxes and raise the debt to pay off a $27,000 car loan, which is similar to the average loan debt of a graduate with a 4-year degree? In addition, this could not even be sent to the House if it passed because it is unconstitutional. You can't start a tax in the Senate, and this has a big tax in it. The way we deal with these issues is the way we did it last year. We worked with the President in a bipartisan way and reduced rates for students. What we need to do today is vote no--no to the political stunt, and move immediately to the deal to help veterans standing in line at clinics and hospitals across the country. I urge the Senate to send this to the committee that is already working on it in a bipartisan way, and let's move to help the veterans in a bipartisan way. I thank the Presiding Officer and yield the floor. cloture motion The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore.…”