WASHINGTON — President Biden warned Friday that Republicans could upset legislative victories won under his administration and a Democratic Congress if the GOP were to gain control of Congress in November’s midterm elections.
“They have no platform but to tear down what I was able to do, we were able to do that.” Mr. Biden told an MSNBC news anchor, according to NBC News. “And I don’t know what they’re for.”
He has also vowed to veto a federal abortion ban if Republicans regain a majority in Congress and seek to pass such legislation. GOP candidates have sought to avoid the topic because polls show a majority of voters support abortion rights.
“The president has to sign it. I will veto it,” he said.
Democrats have won a recent string of legislative victories heading into the campaign trail, having passed sweeping health, climate and tax legislation earlier this year. These include a funding injection into the US semiconductor industry to counter China and expanded medical benefits for veterans who have been exposed to toxins from burning stoves on military bases and a set of gun safety.
“For the past few weeks, all I’m doing is saying here’s what we are, here’s what they are and making a choice and voting,” Biden said in the interview with MSNBC reporter Jonathan Capehart. “And I think people are going to show up and vote like they did last time.”
The state of the 2022 midterm elections
Both parties are making their final arguments ahead of the November 8 election.
More recently, Mr. Biden promised to erase up to $20,000 in student loan debt, which he touted on the campaign trail on Friday, noting that the program has received 22 million applications since it opened the week. last.
But that plan received a blow with an appeals court ruling on Friday in a case brought by several Republican-led states. And a number of Republicans in Congress have targeted some of the administration’s key pieces of legislation.
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Several House Republicans, including the top GOP member of the committee that oversees compensation programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, said they would support repeal of the law that lowered prescription drug costs for seniors if their party took control of the House in November.
Mr. Biden has previously warned that Republicans pose a threat to Social Security and Medicare, as Democrats describe the fate of U.S. social safety net programs as a central campaign issue. He also promised to continue to advance Democratic priorities over the next two years, such as codifying abortion rights, strengthening gun control laws and instituting health reform. police, all measures that would be no-starts with Republican majorities in the House and Senate.
“What do you think they will do?” Mr Biden said at an event last month, criticizing a plan drafted by Sen. Rick Scott, Republican of Florida, that would allow Social Security and Medicare to “fold” if Congress doesn’t not extend the programs with new legislation.
In his interview with MSNBC, Mr Biden dismissed polls that showed the majority of voters refute his handling of the economy. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll found Republicans had an edge among likely voters in November, with many voters citing concerns about the economy, an issue Republican candidates have campaigned heavily on.
Mr Biden has kept a low profile on the campaign trail, opting to avoid rallies and instead tout his legislative victories at smaller events. He reiterated to MSNBC on Friday that he intends to seek re-election in 2024, although he said he has not made a formal decision.