‘Pay Your Own Darn Bills’: AOC, Who Makes $174,000 Per Year, Blasted For Complaining About $17k In Student Loans

The Daily Wire

In a recent speech on the House floor, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) called it “ridiculous” that she needs to pay $17,000 in student loans — although her annual salary as a member of Congress is $174,000.

“I’m 32 years old now,” the lawmaker said. “I have over $17,000 in student loan debt, and I didn’t go to graduate school because I knew that getting another degree would drown me in debt that I would never be able to surpass. This is unacceptable.”

As noted by Foundation for Economic Education policy correspondent Brad Polumbo, Ocasio-Cortez earns more than double the average American household’s income. He also pointed out that if properly managed, her debt is, in all probability, very manageable:

Ocasio-Cortez’s $17,000 in student loan debt sounds like a lot, but it probably only involves a monthly student loan payment of $100-$200. It’s hard to know exactly what her payment is without being familiar with the specifics of her loans, but $100-$200/month is a reasonable estimate given that the average graduate owes $28,400 total, which equates to a $297 monthly payment.

Let’s stop advancing this narrative that student loan debt is for the privileged.

Do we really think a billionaire’s child is taking out student loans?

First-generation college students are twice as likely to report they are behind in making student loan payments. pic.twitter.com/KyGnrJCjNq

— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) December 3, 2021

In response, Daily Wire commentator and bestselling children’s author Matt Walsh observed that student debt forgiveness is a glorified form of “welfare” for the affluent.

“She’s a perfect example of why we shouldn’t forgive student loans,” Walsh tweeted. “She makes $175,000 a year and wants the tax payer to assume her debts? No, pay your bills you deadbeat. Student loan forgiveness is upper class welfare.”

“Half of all student debt is held by people with graduate degrees,” he added. “The idea that this is some kind of persecuted class of people who deserve tax funded debt forgiveness is absurd.”

‘Pay Your Own Darn Bills’: AOC, Who Makes $174,000 Per Year, Blasted For Complaining About $17k In Student Loans

The Daily Wire

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