If you are crushed by student loan debt at a rate of 6 or 7 percent, maybe even higher, you would want to know who to hold accountable for killing the bill to let you refinance at a lower rate. That’s how democracy is supposed to work. So did our nation’s news media fulfill its duty to keep you informed about what is going on with your government?
Here is what happened. Senate Republicans filibustered to keep the bill from coming up for a vote because a majority would have voted to pass it.
Here is what much of the media reported:
Reuters: U.S. student loan refinancing bill fails Senate hurdle.
On the air PBS’ Newshour said the bill “stalled” in the Senate. Politico also used “stalls,” in Elizabeth Warren student loan bill stalls, further obscuring what happened with,
The Senate on Wednesday voted not to move forward on a bill from Sen. Elizabeth Warren that would have allowed an estimated 25 million people with older student loans to refinance that debt at current, lower interest rates.
NPR: Bill To Allow Refinancing Of Student Loans Dies In Senate.
Wall Street Journal: Senate Blocks Bill to Lower Student-Loan Interest Rates.
Washington Post Wonkblog: Elizabeth Warren’s bill to refinance student loans dies in the Senate.
Sacramento Bee: Senate refuses to take up bill to refinance student loans.
National Review Online: Elizabeth Warren’s Student-Loan Bill Fails.
Bloomberg: Senate Blocks Warren’s Student-Loan Refinancing Measure.
So .. do you feel informed? Do you know who to hold accountable? Or do you feel like you should blame all of them? Or maybe just not vote anymore because you can’t figure out who is responsible for what?
Who Got It Right?
ABC: Senate Republicans Block Student Loan Bill
CBS: Senate Republicans block consideration of student loan bill
The Courier-Journal (Louisville): Mitch McConnell & GOP senators block student loan bill
US News: Senate Republicans block Democratic student loan refinancing bill, decrying politics
Rachel Maddow MSNBC: Senate GOP blocks student-loan refinancing
Mother Jones: Republicans Just Killed Elizabeth Warren’s Plan to Ease Americans’ Crushing Student Loan Debt
