WASHINGTON—Representative Scott Franklin issued the following statement after the White House announced its plan for a taxpayer-funded student loan bailout:

“Joe Biden’s illegal student loan bailout will come at the expense of the vast majority of hardworking taxpayers who do not have student loan debt. This reckless and costly decision will continue to fuel the runaway inflation caused by excessive government spending. Furthermore, it does nothing to cut the overpriced costs of higher education or hold academic institutions accountable that often fail to prepare young people with even the most basic skills needed in the workforce. In fact, this decision will only encourage those bad habits and make higher education increasingly unattainable for anyone outside of the wealthiest elites. It’s one more in a long list of attempts by the Biden administration to buy votes with “free stuff” and pander to its supporters at the expense of American families.”