Flashback: Obama Tells High School Grads He’s ‘Frustrated’ by House Republicans

‘When a bill to help you pay off your college doesn’t pass, it’s a disservice not only to your generation but to our history as a nation’

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Speaking at the June 11, 2014 Worcester Technical High School commencement ceremony, President Obama attacked congressional Republicans for voting down a bill that would write down existing home mortgages. 

EXCERPT:

OBAMA: It’s the same idea we used to make it easier for your parents to pay off their mortgages. Now today, that idea was defeated by Republicans in Congress, which was frustrating, especially —

AUDIENCE: Booo —

OBAMA: Well, don’t boo. Just remember to vote. (Laughter and applause.) So I know that it’s frustrating for parents. It’s frustrating for students who are working hard and doing everything right. There are too many politicians in Washington who don’t have the right priorities. We need to straighten them out. And maybe they forgot where they came from and who invested in them along the way. (Applause.) And when a bill to help you pay off your college doesn’t pass, it’s a disservice not only to your generation but to our history as a nation that strives to put quality education within the reach of every American. So we’re going to have to keep on putting pressure on Congress.

But in the meantime, where Congress won’t act, I’m going to do whatever I can on my own. (Applause.) So on Monday, I announced executive actions that are going to help students like you find the right options — and give millions of Americans who are already making their loan payments a chance to cap those repayments at 10 percent of their income. Because a quality education shouldn’t be something that other kids get — it should be something that every kid gets. And that has to be a priority for this country.”

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