President Biden’s public schedule for Thursday 02/09/2023:
| 8:45 AM | Out-of-Town Pool Call Time Joint Base Andrews Visitor Center Overhang Out-of-Town Pool |
| 9:00 AM | The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing Closed Press |
| 9:10 AM | In-Town Pool Call Time In-Town Pool |
| 9:40 AM | The President departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews South Lawn Open Press |
| 10:00 AM | The President departs Joint Base Andrews en route Tampa, Florida Joint Base AndrewsOut-of-Town Pool |
| 12:15 PM | The President arrives in Tampa, Florida Open Press |
| 1:30 PM | The President discusses his plan to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare and lower healthcare costs Open Press |
| 4:10 PM | The President departs Tampa, Florida en route Joint Base Andrews Out-of-Town Pool |
| 6:20 PM | The President departs Joint Base Andrews en route the White House Joint Base Andrews Out-of-Town Pool |
| 6:30 PM | The President arrives at the White House South Lawn Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will gaggle aboard Air Force One en route Tampa, Florida |
The audio only Air Force One press gaggle is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. D.C., time.
This morning the White House posted the following FACT SHEET: Congressional Republicans’ Many Proposals to Cut Social Security and Medicare, and Increase Prescription Drug Prices and Health Care Premiums
During his Tampa visit, the President will contrast his commitment to protecting and strengthening Medicare and Social Security and lowering prescription drug prices, with Congressional Republicans’ plans to cut these programs
President Biden has taken action to strengthen Medicare and protect Social Security – bedrock programs that Americans have paid into and that tens of millions of seniors depend on to support their livelihoods. Congressional Republicans, however, have a different record. For years, Republican Members of Congress have repeatedly tried to cut Medicare and Social Security, move toward privatizing one or both programs, and raise the Social Security retirement age and Medicare eligibility age. And just last week, House Republicans introduced legislation to repeal President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which would give tens of billions of dollars in subsidies back to Big Pharma, raise seniors’ prescription drug prices, and raise taxes on an estimated 14.5 million people – all while increasing the deficit.
In Tampa, Florida today, President Biden will highlight the work his Administration is doing to protect and strengthen Medicare and Social Security, while Republican Members of Congress continue to push plans that would undermine these programs and the economic security of millions of their constituents.
Congressional Republicans’ long record of working to cut Medicare, Social Security:
White House.gov. 02/09/2023.
- Senator Mike Lee said: “One thing that you probably haven’t ever 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.”
The link takes us to a Morning Joe segment. They run Senator Mike Lee’s quote: (02/24/2010)
- In November, John Thune, the number two Senate Republican in leadership, declared that Social Security and Medicare benefits should be slashed.
The link takes us to a Bloomberg interview with Senator Thune (11/29/2022); the article quotes him as saying:
There’s a set of solutions there that we really need to take on if we’re going to get serious about making these programs sustainable and getting this debt bomb at a manageable level before it’s too late.
Typically, I think there’s been a pretty broad bipartisan understanding that default’s not an option. But at the same time I think there’s an understanding that this does create an opportunity especially if the pressure’s on one side to deliver that outcome
[I had to include the set-up for this part]
On entitlement program changes, Thune said Congress should weigh an increase in the Social Security retirement age. But he didn’t rule out a deal that might simply start the process of making key changes, pointing to a proposal by GOP Senator Mitt Romney and others for a task force to examine what needs to be done.
“Even creating a process by which that gets dealt with would be progress and at least a baby step,” Thune said.
Bloomberg.com. 11/29/2023.
- Florida Senator Rick Scott 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. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin proposed sunsetting these laws every year.
The link sends us to White House.gov. A fact-sheet posted on 11/01/2022; By The Numbers: Millions of Americans Would Lose Health Care Coverage, Benefits, and Protections Under Congressional Republicans’ Plans
I shared the above fact-sheet in “Biden Bits: Happy Halloween” on 11/01/2022.
Lady Snark on 02/25/2022 covered “Rick Scott, and His Magical Mystery 11-Point Plan!“. I apologize to Tony, that I had the date way wrong in my comment to him yesterday.
From Lady Snark’s article:
One highlight here is that he wants to decrease the federal government by 25% over the span of 5 years. Sounds great! But what do you do about all the newly-unemployed federal workers? That’s a helluva lot of people who are going to need to find a new job.
Remember when I said there was a lot of the usual conservative talking points, with a bunch of stupid stuff thrown in? You just witnessed the former; now here’s one of the latter…
All federal legislation sunsets in 5 years. If a law is worth keeping, Congress can pass it again.
Rick Snot’s 11-Point Plan, page 38
The federal code fills a whole bunch of books. Now imagine if every single law in all those books has to be passed every 5 years.
Congress wouldn’t be able to do all that, much less all the rest of the work they legitimately must do, like pass a budget, declare war, or confirm judges and SCOTUS nominees. This is like reinventing the wheel every 5 years.
It’s stupid and wasteful.
Would it be a good idea to cull out outdated laws? Yes. Do you need to throw out every single law and pass only the good ones again to accomplish that? No.
Lady Snark. 02/25/2022.
- The Republican Study Committee – which includes a majority of House Republicans – released a formal budget that, according to Politico, included “raising the eligibility ages for each program, along with withholding payments for individuals who retire early or had a certain income, and privatized funding for Social Security to lower income taxes.”
The link takes us to Politico “Congress Minutes” posted on 10/17/2022. If you scroll past the Mike Lee talked about Mike Lee in the third person snip we reach “The White House is criticizing Steve Scalise for doubling down on Republicans’ plans to reform Medicare and Social Security — a burgeoning common line of attack for Democrats.”
While I normally would not copy and paste an article from a news site in full, the shortness of the blurb has left me no other choice.
For context: The Republican Study Committee released its annual alternative budget for fiscal 2023 back in June, which included a number of suggested reforms for Medicare and Social Security that aim to possibly prevent a looming solvency crisis for both programs. These reforms include raising the eligibility ages for each program, along with withholding payments for individuals who retire early or had a certain income, and privatized funding for Social Security to lower income taxes. In addition, House Republicans rolled out a 2023 agenda in September that promised moves to “save and strengthen Social Security and Medicare.”
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has gone after the Republican plan, framing it as “slashing and … privatizing Social Security” and “ending Medicare as we know it.”
Scalise on Sunday called the attacks a “typical red herring by Democrats,” while arguing that Republicans are in fact “strengthening and shoring up Medicare and Social Security, which are both” headed for bankruptcy.
The significance: Democrats have used similar lines of attack on Medicare and Social Security against other Republicans as well. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) got some heat from Democrats for proposing a shift for the two government entitlement programs from mandatory to discretionary spending. He eventually found himself clarifying his comments during a debate with Democratic opponent Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.
— Nancy Vu
Politico. 10/17/2022.
- And in 2015, most House Republicans, including Speaker McCarthy, Rep. Scalise, and a host of others in current leadership, voted to raise the retirement age to 70, which would cut Social Security benefits for tens of millions of seniors who paid into the system for years.
The voted link takes us to something called CQ that needs a log-in to access. I have tried “google” but haven’t located anything yet. It’s now seven a.m., my time, so I’m moving on…
Republican Members of Congress have proposed making health care and prescription drugs more expensive:
Last week, Republicans in the House proposed repealing the Inflation Reduction Act, including its health care provisions. And, just yesterday, Republicans on the House Budget Committee floated a proposal to repeal the health care provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act. Here’s what that would mean for working families across the country and in Florida:
White House.gov. 02/09/2023.
- A 62-year-old in Tampa earning $55,000 would see their premium increase by $7,000 per year.
- 14.5 million Americans nationwide will pay higher health insurance premiums and see a tax increase.
- Everyone with Medicare will see higher drug prices if Medicare cannot negotiate the price of drugs.
- Tens of billions of dollars will go right back to Big Pharma, which will increase the deficit.
- 3.3 million Medicare beneficiaries who use insulin will no longer have the peace of mind of knowing that their insulin is capped at $35.
- Millions of seniors will no longer be able to get recommended vaccines for free.
- Drug companies could go back to increasing drug prices faster than inflation with no accountability, which happened for 1,200 prescription drugs last year.
President Biden has called for protecting Medicare and Social Security, and lowering health care costs for working families:
In this week’s State of the Union, President Biden vowed to protect Social Security and Medicare and build on the progress we’ve made in lowering health care costs for millions of seniors and American families.
Through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act:
White House.gov. 02/09/2023.
- Seniors are paying no more than $35 per month for an insulin prescription. If this law had been in effect in 2020, over 90,000 Floridians would have saved an average of $476.
- Seniors are able to get recommended vaccines for free, saving many seniors hundreds of dollars.
- Seniors’ out of pocket prescription drug costs will be capped at $2000 per year – benefitting over a million Medicare beneficiaries and cancer patients paying skyrocketing prices for prescription drugs each year.
- An estimated 14.5 million Americans are saving on health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act. Over 3.2 million Floridians signed up for coverage this year.
- Drug companies will have to pay Medicare a rebate if they raise their prices faster than inflation. Today, the Department of Health and Human Services is announcing next steps for implementing this key provision of the President’s prescription drug law, which will lower drug costs for millions of Americans.
And President Biden wants to build on this historic progress. In his State of the Union Address, the President has called on Congress to:
White House.gov. 02/09/2023.
- Commit to taking cuts to Social Security and Medicare off the table.
- Expand the insulin cap in the Inflation Reduction Act, so all Americans can benefit from insulin being capped at $35 for a month’s supply.
- Make permanent the ACA tax credits that – thanks to President Biden’s prescription drug law – are lowering health insurance premiums for an estimated 14.5 million people, and close the Medicaid coverage gap to benefit more than 1 million Floridians.
President Biden’s remarks from Florida are scheduled for 1:45 p.m. D.C., time, according to the YouTube live feed posted by the White House.
President Biden has tweeted…
He’s got 3 tweets so far for Thursday.
From the State of the Union Address 02/07/2023:
President Biden: Folks, we all know 12 years of education is not enough to win the economic competition of the 21st century. (Applause.) If we want to have the best-educated workforce, let’s finish the job by providing access to preschool for three and four years old. Studies show that children who go to preschool are nearly 50 percent more likely to finish high school and go on to earn a two- or four-year degree, no matter their background they came from. Let’s give public school teachers a raise. (Applause.)
From the State of the Union Address 02/07/2023:
President Biden: So, tonight, let’s all agree — and we apparently are — let’s stand up for seniors. (Applause.) Stand up and show them we will not cut Social Security. We will not cut Medicare.
From White House.gov/record:
The Inflation Reduction Act is a historic legislative achievement that lowers costs for families, combats the climate crisis, reduces the deficit, and finally makes the largest corporations pay their fair share. For the first time, Medicare is able to negotiate the price of certain high-cost drugs, a month’s supply of insulin for seniors is capped at $35, Medicare beneficiaries pay $0 out of pocket for recommended adult vaccines, and seniors’ out of pocket expenses at the pharmacy will be capped at $2,000 a year. And thanks to the President’s actions, including a historic release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, gas prices are down more than $1.60 from their summer 2022 peak.
White Hose.gov/record.
When the post was posted for Wednesday, President Biden had tweeted 7 times. He added 10 tweets giving him a Wednesday Tweeting Total of 17 tweets and 0 retweets.
From the State of the Union Address 02/07/2023:
President Biden: I’m so sick and tired of companies breaking the law by preventing workers from organizing. Pass the PRO Act! (Applause.) Because businesses have a right — workers have a right to form a union. And let’s guarantee all workers have a living wage.
The PRO Act passed the House on 03/09/2022:
| Date | Actions Overview |
|---|---|
| 03/09/2021 | Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 – 206 (Roll no. 70). |
| 02/04/2021 | Introduced in House |
The YouTube is 27 minutes and 24 seconds long. His full remarks can be found here.
The video clip is 31 seconds long.
President Biden: Lebron [James] congratulations! With your whole heart and soul, you broke a hallowed record. You elevated the game and more than that like Kareem and Bill Russell and others who came before you. You challenged and inspired a nation to be better, do better, and live up to our full promise. So, keep it going, man. Keep the faith and congratulations to you and your wonderful family–your mom, Gloria, your wife Savannah, and your beautiful children Bronny, Bryce, and Zhuri. God bless you all.
Wednesday’s Wisconsin remarks 02/08/2023:
President Biden: Last night — last night, I reported on the state of the Union. It is strong. It is strong. (Applause.) And it’s strong because of you, because the soul of this nation is strong, the backbone of this nation is strong, and the people of this nation are strong.
The only text that appears in his remarks is “shovels in the ground.”
Wednesday’s Wisconsin remarks 02/08/2023:
President Biden: We’re going to keep lowering costs for families. We’re going to keep putting shovels in the ground to rebuild our infrastructure, our supply chains, and manufacture more here at home.
From the State of the Union live thread:
Maurice and Kandice Barron (New York, New York)
The Barrons’ three-year old daughter, Ava, is a survivor of a rare form of pediatric cancer. Mr. Barron penned a letter to the President to express gratitude for the Bidens’ commitment to the Cancer Moonshot initiative and share their experience as parents and caregivers of a child with cancer. In 2022, Ava’s doctors gave the Barrons good news by officially declaring her in remission. Their family’s story is one of hope and possibility, inspiring us to continue working towards a future where we end cancer as we know it.
The video is 1 minute and 53 seconds long.
Maurice Barron: In April of 2020, Ava was diagnosed with an incredibly rare from of pediatric cancer. It was probably the worst moment of our lives. She had one of her kidneys removed. She had 11 rounds of radiation, eight rounds of chemotherapy.
Kandice Barron: What do you say to that? Literally. I mean, him just saying it out loud. It’s a miracle she’s still standing here with everyone. Everyday I would say, when I was at the hospital, “I woke up, I saw Ava.” And they gave me one more day, this is one more day.
Maurice Barron: So I wrote to President Biden after Ava’s treatment had kind of finished because his story and the First Lady’s story had inspired us so much that I felt I had to thank them for giving us that inspiration. When she was initially diagnosed, we, we didn’t have–we didn’t have a lot of hope. We said “we have to thank them.” We have to say guys–by you telling your story about you guys embracing the emotion, by showing that you could somehow go on if the worst was to happen–that it was possible for us, as well. And somehow on the biggest night of the year, you find yourself here, you know. And with the people you love the most.
Off Camera Person says: I heard that there’s good news right now?
Maurice Barron: You know, her cancer was so aggressive that they were very, very–they were in fear it was going to come back but for two years straight, we got clear scans and our oncology team were able to tell us that they felt that against all of the odds, that she had somehow beaten this and that she could move on to survivorship.
Kandice Barron: No truer American story than that. Right. Like we are a people of resiliency and she is simply part of that fabric. And here, that’s proof.
Maurice Barron: You need a lot of things to beat cancer, but the first thing you really need is hope. And I think she will really give hope to everybody. Is that right, laddy? Can I have a high five? [Ava gives dad a high-five] Boom!
From the State of the Union Address 02/07/2023:
President Biden: Tonight, I’m also announcing new standards to require all construction materials used in federal infra- — infrastructure projects to be made in America. (Applause.) Made in America. I mean it. (Applause.) Lumber, glass, drywall, fiber-optic cable.
Wednesday’s Wisconsin remarks 02/08/2023:
President Biden: Last night, I announced we’re proposing new standards to require all construction materials used on federal infrastructure projects be made in America. (Applause.) American lumber, American glass, American drywall, American fiber optics, American roads, bridges, highways made with American products.
From the State of the Union Address 02/07/2023:
President Biden: I know how unfair it feels when a company overcharges you and gets away with it. Not anymore.
President Biden: So pass — pass the Junk Fee Prevention Act so companies stop ripping us off.
Wednesday’s Wisconsin remarks 02/08/2023:
President Biden: I know how unfair it feels when a company overcharges you and think they can get away with it. They play us for suckers. And it makes you angry, at least it does me. Frankly, it offends me to think about it. So I’m calling on Congress to pass a Junk Free [Fee] Prevention Act so we can do more than [to] crack down on these junk fees.
Wednesday’s Wisconsin remarks 02/08/2023:
President Biden: And while there’s more work to do, it’s clear our plan is working because of the — because of the grit and resolve of the American worker.
Wednesday’s Wisconsin remarks 02/08/2023:
President Biden: The national debt is the total debt and interest accumulated over 220 years. You hear me? Two hundred — over 200 years. Every single year that we went and spent more than we took in, it added up. So the federal debt you’re hearing about is not the yearly debt, it’s 220 or so years of accumulated debt. Democrats, Republicans, everybody. But here’s the deal: Our credit has been good. We’ve never missed a payment as a nation on the debt we have. Why in God’s name would America give up the progress we’ve made for the chaos they’re suggesting?
This is an Open Thread.
