SCOTUS Strikes Down Debt Relief for Students; Rules in Favor of Anti-Gay Web Designer

The U.S. Supreme Court is striking down President Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan. In a 6-3 decision, the justices ruled the president overstepped his authority when he didn’t get authorization from Congress.

The plan would’ve canceled $20,000 in loans for people who got Pell Grants, which is aid for low-income students, or up to $10,000 for all other federal borrowers.

In another decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Christian web designer who refused to design websites for same-sex weddings. The high court in another 6-3 ruling says the Colorado web designer has a free speech right under the First Amendment to refuse to endorse messages she disagrees with.

FILE – Web designer Lorie Smith is shown in her office on Nov. 7, 2022, in the southwest part of Littleton, Colo. The Supreme Court is hearing the case Monday, Dec. 5, of Smith, a Christian graphic artist who objects to designing wedding websites for gay couples, a dispute that’s the latest clash of religion and gay rights to land at the highest court. Smith says her Christian faith prevents her from creating websites celebrating same-sex marriages. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

LGBTQ advocates argue with the decision, saying it could allow business owners to evade punishment under laws in dozens of states aimed at protecting LGBTQ rights.

Click to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.