Internet criticizes Sen Tom Cotton as he introduces bill to block student loan bailouts for anti-Israel protesters

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Sen Tom Cotton introduced legislation that seeks to prevent anti-Israel protesters who are convicted as a result of their demonstrations on college campuses across the United States, from receiving the benefits of student loan bailouts provided by the Biden administration, on Friday, May 3.

The "No Bailouts for Campus Criminals Act" introduced by the GOP lawmaker from Arkansas has been co-sponsored by 18 other GOP senators, according to the New York Post.

If passed, it would make any individual convicted of a state or federal offense in connection with a campus protest ineligible for any federal student loan relief.

President Joe Biden has already approved roughly $160 billion in student debt forgiveness for nearly 4.6 million borrowers through various executive actions. The new bill comes at a time when the number of protesters arrested at the Manhattan campus of Columbia University has reached around 200.

Statement of legislators on the bill

“Americans who never went to college or responsibly paid off their debts shouldn’t have to pay off other people’s student loans. They especially shouldn’t have to pay off the loans of Hamas sympathizers shutting down and defacing campuses," stated Cotton in his proposal.

His opinion was echoed by his co-sponsors, with Sen Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn) noting, "Hamas sympathizers engaging in criminal behavior on college campuses should be ineligible for student loan bailouts. We must hold these criminals accountable and ensure taxpayer dollars do not go toward paying off their debt."

A companion legislation in the House of Representatives is being led by Rep Brandon Williams (R-NY), who shared, "Violent campus protestors laughably demand respect, amnesty, and even takeout food. Our bicameral bill ensures that not one student protestor convicted of criminal offenses is bailed out by student loan forgiveness. Not one dime of taxpayer money will fund these criminals."

Internet reacts to Tom Cotton's proposed legislation

"Might be the most Israel First Republican I've ever seen," reacted a user over the social media platform X on the topic of Cotton's "No Bailouts for Campus Criminals Act."

"How about no student loan bail outs at all?" inquired another. [sic]

"Damn, Sen Cotton is legitimizing Biden's student loan bribery. Why in hell would you do that?" stated a user.

"Thus normalizing the rest of the corrupt vote buying? Lol," echoed another user.

"Seriously, how long before we get sent to jail for criticizing Israel?" quipped one more user.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.