White House schools reps who took PPP money, but oppose student-debt cancellation

The White House weaponized Twitter to drag members of Congress who oppose debt forgiveness for students loans, but benefited from PPP money.

In a well-executed effort to offset criticism of its announcement Wednesday that the federal government would ease debts for some students who took out loans to pay for their education, the Biden Administration launched a social-media blitz targeting representatives opposed to those actions. That Thursday afternoon campaign took aim at GOP operatives who benefited from Paycheck Protection Program money during the pandemic lockdowns.

“Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene had $183,504 in PPP loans forgiven,” said one tweet showing video of the Georgia congresswoman complaining “It’s completely unfair” that the federal government would “say ok, your debt is completely forgiven.”

The far-right wing politician with a penchant for bizarre conspiracy theories made a hefty donation to her own political campaign after receiving what the White House said was more than $183,504 during the pandemic, Salon reports. Greene runs a construction company.

“Congressman Matt Gaetz had $482,321 in PPP loans forgiven,” the White House tweeted.

That posting was accompanied by a Wednesday tweet from Gaetz lamenting the amount of money the U.S. has sent to Ukraine in its war against Russia.

The White House also called out Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Kelly, who it said had nearly a million dollars in PPP loans forgiven to subsidize his car dealerships.

“Asking plumbers and carpenters to pay off the loans of Wall Street advisors and lawyers isn’t just unfair,” Kelly had earlier tweeted. “It’s also bad policy.”

Congress members Kevin Hern, Markwayne Mullin and Vern Buchanan were also called out for accepting at least a million dollars in PPP loan forgiveness.

Prior to launching that series of specific messages around 6 p.m., the White House tweeted “The Administration’s student loan proposal will make the student loan system more manageable for current and future borrowers by cutting monthly payments in half for undergraduate loans and providing an easier path to loan forgiveness for public servants.”

There appeared to be no immediate reactions to the fast and furious series of tweets posted by the White House at the close of the business day. Critics of loan forgiveness proposals have expressed concern that the costs would be shouldered by people who didn’t benefit from a college education. There have also been questions about how the economy will be affected.

[ Georgia police investigating fake 911 call home of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene ]