“Assuming that 75% of close who take it on the president student loan repayment plan, and you look at the average cash, cash flow on that, it will be about 24 billion dollars for year,” she said on “Don Lemon Tonight”.
Pushed by a lemon on whether the White House will release a detailed cost assessment, Jean-Pierre said they share more details as soon as they see how many Americans use of plan.
AT news at a briefing earlier Thursday, Jean-Pierre continued to insist that the plan to cancel thousands of dollars in federal student loan debt for millions of Americans “would be paid in full for because of in work what did this president do with in economy.”
When asked specifically whether the administration had imagined better total price label for in the program, Jean-Pierre began his response with the words “President record on fiscal responsibility is second nobody” before detailing list of his economic achievements. But she didn’t provide an estimate on how plan could cost during the briefing.
“All of this is when it comes to cost will also depend on how a lot of of The canceled loans were expected to be repaid, this would depend on on how many borrowers actually take up this opportunity before we get real meaning, she said.
She claimed that the Treasury “received zero for in last two years” as payments were suspended, but on Wednesday deputy director of The National Economic Council Bharat Ramamurthy said that borrowers are still repaying about $2 billion a month during the pause, compared to $6 billion a month normally.
The White House proposed more indicated defense of this is student loan repayment plan on Twitter, calls out Republican Party critics who Payday Protection Program loans were forgiven.
The White House tweeted similar responses to criticism from Republican Party officials Mike Kelly. of Pennsylvania, Vern Buchanan of Florida & Marquane Mullin & Kevin Hern of Oklahoma.
On Thursday, they asked if the administration would eventually release cost assessment, Jean-Pierre said that “Department of Education will take lead.”
When asked why the president waited so long to make it decision cancel debtshe told Biden.wanted to do this in fiscally balanced way. And it was legal review. … We wanted do sure legal review been done.”
But pressed on how it could be financial responsible with No public cost evaluation and no specifics on how the plan will be paid for or who would pay for Jean-Pierre insisted that the administration “doesn’t see it as irresponsible”.
“We don’t see it as irresponsible,” she said. “We see this as a financially responsible, balanced approach to this. I remember people said, “Why don’t you make $50,000?” we are not want do it because we want do sure what we do is in fiscally responsible way. Again, not pleasing everyone, but forcing sure that we will keep this promise, but also do this in smart, financial responsible way.”
Ramamurthy suggested more explanation to Phil Mattingly CNN on Wednesday in in difficulty in provision of the main number.
He said without knowing how many borrowers sign up would be difficult know in total cost. “It’s playing big role in what the cost will be,” he said.
But beyond that, he said, other factors made It’s hard to provide a company number. He said there are different estimates of default rates, which will affect total figure. He added that assistance also bring in additional tax revenue if recipients start small enterprises or purchase homes.
This story was updated with additional information Thursday.
Sam Fossum of CNN and Paul LeBlanc contributed to this report.
