Nan Swift at R Street:

President Biden deserves credit for resisting the calls of others in his party to wipe out $50,000 in student loan debt per borrower “with the flick of a pen,” as Politico reports. So far, it appears the president intends to work with Congress to cancel a smaller tranche of loans at $10,000 per borrower.

Over time, congressional inaction across issues ranging from regulations and trade to war powers and abuses of apportionment, has atrophied the will and ability of Congress to legislate. The best way to restore the Power of the Purse is to start exercising it. Congress should be mightier than the president’s pen, but it won’t be for long if legislators keep asking the president to do their dirty work.