During the second stop of his post-State of the Union tour to election battleground states on Feb. 9, President Joe Biden claimed that, for a lot of Republicans, it is “their dream to cut Social Security and Medicare.”
“Well, let me say this,” Biden exclaimed. “If that’s your dream, I’m your nightmare.”
After delivering a State of the Union address on Feb. 7 that drew the ire of many Republicans, Biden traveled to Wisconsin on Feb. 8 and the University of Tampa on Feb. 9.
At a training center operated by the Laborers’ International Union of North America near Madison, Wisconsin, Biden continued to praise economic numbers that show job growth, especially in the manufacturing sector; and reduced inflation rates in each of the previous six months.
In Tampa, Biden said he will protect Medicare and Social Security and added that some Republicans, like Florida Sen. Rick Scott, want to cut those programs.
During his speech, Biden referenced the “spirited debate” at the State of the Union.
The exchange was sparked when talking about the debt ceiling issue, Biden said, “Some of my Republican friends want to take the economy hostage unless I agree to their economic plans. All of you at home should know what their plans are.
“Instead of making the wealthy pay their fair share, some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to sunset every five years,” he added.
Comments on ‘Sunsetting’
“I’m not saying it’s the majority,” Biden said.“Anyone who doubts it, contact my office. I’ll give you a copy of the proposal,” he added.
Moments later, tension was calmed as Biden said, “So, folks, as we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare is off the books now. Right? All right. We’ve got unanimity!”
At the University of Tampa, Biden said that Scott has proposed sunsetting all federal legislation, including Social Security and Medicare, every five years as part of a 12-point economic plan.
Guests at the speech received copies of Scott’s 12-point proposal along with Biden’s plan to protect the programs.
Biden did not mention Republican legislators who allegedly want to “sunset” Social Security and Medicare at the State of the Union, but the president readily talked about Scott while he was in Florida.
“I reminded them that Florida’s own Rick Scott, the guy who ran the Senate Campaign Committee for Republicans last year, had a plan to sunset—maybe he’s changed his mind, maybe he’s seen the Lord—but he wanted to sunset it. Meaning if you don’t reauthorize it, it goes away,” Biden explained.
“The very idea the senator from Florida wants to put Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block every five years I find to be somewhat outrageous.”
Biden is ‘Twisting Words’
In a TV interview on Feb. 9, Scott said Biden is “twisting his words” and added that Biden has been “ a complete failure, and now he lies about what they want to get done, and I don’t appreciate it.”Biden also blasted Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis for not expanding subsidized health care with help from the federal government.
Florida is one of 11 states that have not expanded Medicaid.
“I will not cut a single Social Security or Medicare benefit. In fact, I’m going to extend the Medicare trust fund for at least two decades,” Biden said.
“Over 1.1 million people in Florida would be eligible for Medicaid if Governor DeSantis just said, ‘I agree to expand it.’”
Before Biden arrived in Tampa, the White House released a statement that said, “the president will contrast his commitment to protecting and strengthening Medicare and Social Security and lowering prescription drug prices with congressional Republicans’ plan to cut these programs.
“Unfortunately, there is a long history of congressional Republicans’ efforts to cut these programs,” the statement continued.
Tens of Millions of Beneficiaries
The White House referenced a quote from Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who said, “One thing that you probably haven’t heard from a politician: It will be my objective to phase out Social Security, to pull it up by the roots, and get rid of it.”Scott was not spared by the White House statement, which said that he is championing a plan to put Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security on the chopping block every five years, which would put the health and economic security of 63 million Medicare beneficiaries, 69 million Medicaid beneficiaries, and 65 million Social Security beneficiaries at risk.”
The White House added that Scott has also supported some House Republican attempts to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, “which would impose one of the biggest Medicare benefit cuts of all time.”
Scott has reiterated that he does not want to eliminate Social Security or Medicare. He is currently running an ad in Florida calling for Biden to resign.
In 1975, Scott said, Biden authored legislation when he was a Delaware senator that would have mandated all federal programs to sunset after five years.
A provision in Scott’s 12-point plan says that “all federal legislation sunsets in five years. If a law is worth keeping, Congress can pass it again.”
President’s Agenda
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Air Force One that the bill Scott referenced does not reflect Biden’s current beliefs.“The president ran on protecting Medicare and Social Security from cuts, and he reiterated that in the State of the Union,” Jean-Pierre said. “A bill from the 1970s is not part of the president’s agenda.”
Biden’s address at the University of Tampa allowed for an audience of around 100 people.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor and Darren Soto, and former U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist were among the guests.
Crist was soundly defeated by DeSantis last November in the Florida governor’s race.
DeSantis has not disclosed if he plans to run for president in 2024.
Biden has yet to formally announce a reelection bid, though he has indicated that he plans to seek another term.
