In Washington, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) (left) and Gov. Spencer Cox (right) discuss their reactions to President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union address to a divided Congress on Feb. 7.
WASHINGTON. D.C. – In his first State of the Union address to a divided Congress, President Joe Biden stressed his administration’s previous accomplishments and called for a “unity agenda” in the future.
Some of the items he mentioned in that agenda were greeted warmly with bi-partisan applause, including providing housing assistance to veterans; enacting a universal cap on out-of-pocket insulin costs; more resources for cancer research; expanding on recent mental health laws; and, combating the opioid epidemic.
Other ideas in his speech fell flat with Republicans, however.
“It felt like he was bullying us,” according to Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL), the chair of the House Policy Committee.
“I was so disappointed because I keep hoping that the guy’s gonna have a rational moment where he’s willing to work with us to get some things done that really need to be done for the American people,” Palmer added after the speech.
In the House gallery as an invited guest, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox was equally unimpressed.
“If you’re writing for applause lines, you write crappy speeches,” Cox said bluntly. “There was not much substance, and when there was, it tended to be not good substance.”
Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) was somewhat more charitable in his comments after the State of the Union Address.
“I appreciated the opportunity to hear President Biden’s remarks,” he said. “I agreed with his sentiments in support of Ukraine, investments in medical technologies, research to fight cancer and additional resources for our veterans and their families.
“However, his attempts to herald his administration’s policies came across as tone deaf to Americans who are struggling with historic inflation, harmful open border policies and compromised national security.”
Biden spent most of the annual speech touting the climate, tax and health laws that Democrats enacted during the 117th Congress.
He also urged the assembled Congress to “finish the job” on other policies that Democrats failed to enact last term.
Those unfinished tasks include permanently expanding more generous health insurance premium subsidies; expanding coverage to states that fall in the 2010 health law’s Medicaid gap; and, enacting a new tax on billionaires.
Acknowledging that some Republicans want to repeal his administration’s signature “Inflation Reduction Act,” Biden warned against any such rash action.
“Good luck with that,” he said, an implied threat to vulnerable Republicans in the 2024 election.
Republicans responded with loud boos and jeers when the president accused them of trying to reduce Social Security and Medicare.
“This (State of the Union address) was objectively different than any other I’ve attended,” Sen. Mike Lee said after the chief executive’s speech.
“The President of the United States looked us right in the eye and mischaracterized what half the people in the chamber believe.
“It wasn’t true,” Lee argued. “And he did that not just once. He did it two, three, four times.”
“The most disingenuous thing he said all night was that some Republicans want to sunset Medicare,” Moore agreed. “This has emerged as the Democrats’ chosen campaign narrative leading into 2024.
“I was very disappointed that he used this speech to spread that rhetoric.”
Republicans contend that the Biden administration’s hyper-partisan fiscal policies have caused inflation to skyrocket and that Democrats’ reckless spending has become the nation’s greatest threat.
They also blame weakened economic stability and national security on illegal immigration, drug trafficking, burdensome regulations and supply chain challenges.
Moore also wants accountability for Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in August of 2021 that cost precious American lives and billions of dollars worth of defense equipment.
After building a reputation in the 117th Congress for bi-partisan cooperation with Democrats, however, Moore characteristically extended an olive branch to the embattled president.
“I share President Biden’s optimism for the progress we can achieve if elected officials from both sides of the aisle work together to craft solutions,” he added.
”I hope to leverage my positions on the House Ways and Means and Budget committees to reverse Washington’s debt culture; rein in federal spending; support our military and national defense efforts; and, ensure that every American can feel safe in their community.”