First hour: Discussing the latest with electric vehicles, infrastructure, and tax credits
Second hour: Examining President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan
A $7,500 tax credit is an incentive for many people considering an electric vehicle (EV) purchase. But how does it work? What are the rules? Some consumers say they are confused about the requirements and qualifications. Meanwhile, there are also questions about EV infrastructure and how accessible charging stations are around the region. We discuss all of this and more with our guests:
- Preston Faulkner, local resident who is considering an electric vehicle purchase
- Brad McAreavy, president of the Rochester Automobile Dealers Association
- Abby McHugh-Grifa, executive director of the Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region
- Anne Spaulding, manager for the division of environmental quality for the City of Rochester
Then in our second hour, last week, President Biden announced a federal student loan forgiveness plan, which would erase up to $20,000 of debt for Pell Grant recipients, and up to $10,000 for other borrowers who meet certain income requirements. The plan also extends a pause on loan payments until January 2023. News of the plan sparked immediate debate. Some borrowers applauded the news, others said the forgiveness amounts are not enough, and -- as reported by NPR -- some people without student loans agreed with Republican Congresswoman Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, who referred to the plan as "a slap in the face to those who never went to college, as well as borrowers who upheld their responsibility to taxpayers and paid back their loans." This hour, we explore how the forgiveness plan works, and we discuss different sides of the debate with our guests:
- Patrick Coyle, political organizer
- Kevin Wilson, host of "A Free Solution" podcast, and former chair of the Monroe County Libertarian Party