If you pay student loans, those payments are currently not deducted from federal income tax, aside from a $2,500 per year deduction (only on interest). Obama should ask congress to allow all payments to be deductible.
Many pay much more than $2,500 a year. They are taxed on their full income, even though they have relatively little to live on after student loans.
Payments on other debt to increase future income (say capital investment) is tax deductible. Treating investment loans for education the same way would encourage education, and enable many to take risks and become entrepreneurs, even as they pay back their full student loans. Allowing deductions on all payments, instead of just interest, also gives an incentive to pay back student loans early