On Tuesday at 9:00 pm, President Joe Biden gave his State of the Union address in hopes of creating a balance between the thoughts of the Republicans and the Democrats. Throughout the State of the Union address, President Biden talks about important issues facing Americans while offering his ideas on solving the nation’s problems and including suggestions for new laws and policies.
While outlining his legislative accomplishments from the previous year and pledging to collaborate with the new Republican House leadership, Biden highlighted his customary message of a union.
He provided a vision for 2024 full of topics that had already been shown to be popular with the left-wing population. Finally, he made a clear distinction between himself and the right-wing House Republicans who reprimanded Biden despite newly elected House Speaker Kevin McCarthy ordering them not to during the address.
Beyond removing what Biden called “junk fees” in travel, entertainment, and credit cards, the President didn’t ask for many new legislative ideas from the incoming Congress. Instead, he pushed the concept of “finishing the job.”
That was the play for both sides for the first 45 minutes of Biden’s speech. However, this was lost when Biden started criticizing Republicans for their proposals to cut Social Security and Medicare. His comments appeared to infuriate Republicans, who hurled “lie” from their seats.
As he began his statement, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy vowed to treat President Biden respectfully and urged his fellow Republicans to do the same. But, given his tenuous hold on his conference and some Republicans, it was difficult. However, Biden proceeded with his speech.
Biden reaffirmed his support for a tax on billionaires and business stock buybacks.
“The tax system is not fair; it’s not fair,” Biden said. “The idea that in 2020, 55 of the largest corporations in America, of Fortune 500, made $40 billion in profits and paid $0 in federal taxes? $0? Folks, it’s simply not fair.”
Progressives in the 2020 election, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, championed the concept. Biden has committed not to increase taxes for Americans making less than $400,000 a year.
“Now because of the law I signed, billion-dollar companies have to pay a minimum of 15%, God love them,” Biden said to jeers by Democrats. “15%! That’s less than a nurse pays!”
In his federal budget proposal from March last year, Biden had already suggested a 20% tax on billionaires. In his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, President Biden urged Congress to “complete the job.” At the time, the measure received little support, and the Republican-controlled House makes it doubtful that it will now.
As part of his broader drive to create an “economy that works for everyone, so we can all feel pride in what we do,” the President announced several worker-first measures.
Last month President Biden announced that the Federal Trade Commission could outlaw or severely restrict noncompete agreements. According to Biden, 30 million Americans must sign noncompete agreements, including executives and fast-food cashiers.
Biden urged Congress to enact the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which reinstates workers’ ability to organize a union without facing repercussions.
Biden once more focused on drug prices. He demanded that the Inflation Reduction Act’s $35 restriction on insulin prices be extended to Americans with private insurance who are in need.
“There are millions of other Americans who are not on Medicare, including 200,000 young people with Type 1 diabetes that need this insulin to stay alive,” Biden said. “Let’s finish the job this time. Let’s cap the cost of insulin for everybody at $35.”
Many of Biden’s proposals, such as the PRO Act and billionaire taxes, will be difficult to pass in the House of Representatives under the rule of the Republicans. However, the situation shows how other negotiations will proceed one month into the new Congress.
