Congressional Democrats at odds over President Biden's power to cancel student loan debt

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that President Joe Biden does not have the power to forgive student loan debt, putting her at odds with some members of her own Democratic caucus as the pressure builds on the president to cancel $50,000 in student loan debt per borrower. 

"People think that the president of the United States has the power for debt forgiveness. He does not," Pelosi said in response to a question at her weekly news briefing. "He can postpone, he can delay, but he does not have that power."  The speaker said student loan forgiveness would have to be done through an act of Congress. She noted the policy debate over how much debt could be canceled and for how many people but argued the president couldn't make the decision unilaterally.