Progressives are planning to counter President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on March 1 with a speech highlighting roadblocks caused by conservative Democrats and ways that the country can move forward in pursuing the Democratic agenda.
On behalf of the Working Families Party, Rashida Tlaib (D–Michigan), will deliver the speech. She is expected to praise Biden but point out that progressives have been the staunchest defenders of Biden’s Build Back Better agenda. She will also be critical of Republicans and conservative Democrats within Congress, who have obstructed progress on issues like lowering prescription drug prices, addressing the climate crisis, and decreasing child hunger.
“The overarching goal for the Working Families Party and for the congresswoman is to recenter Build Back Better, is to remind our base and remind our folks on the Hill in Congress, that this is so much more than just the President’s legislative agenda,” Natalia Salgado, Director of Federal Affairs at WFP, told Truthout.
This will be the fifth time that WFP has countered the president’s State of the Union address with a progressive angle. The speech was delivered by a WFP representative last April. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-New York)Biden was praised by a number of people, but they urged him to be more bold in pursuing an agenda that focuses on addressing the climate crisis as well as delivering racial injustice.
This year’s speech comes at a critical time for the Democratic party. The 2022 midterm elections will be a significant event. be toughDemocrats: Biden must act quickly to ensure climate action and other priorities are protected before he can lose the majority of his congressional seats.
Tlaib is expected to emphasize that Democrats can do more to pass proposals like the Green New Deal and to address issues like gun violence – but it’s crucial for more progressives to be elected to office so that the passage of such bills isn’t obstructed by a vocal minority of conservative Democrats.
“We are in a moment of urgency. We are in a moment of crisis, and the corporate democratic wing of the party needs to be reminded that the American voters, the American electorate, voted for us to govern effectively,” Salgado said. “Nothing makes voters more likely to stay home than feeling like the people that they voted into office, that are part of a majority, are still not able to respond to them.”
Tlaib emphasized on Twitter that the speech is “about the people who are hurtingWithout [Build Back Better].”
“Despite some sensational coverage, it’s simple: I’m giving a speech about supporting President Biden and his Build Back Better agenda for the people,” Tlaib wrote. “Look past the headlines and hear progressives’ vision for working with the President and Congress to deliver for our residents.”
In fact, millions of families are facing financial hardship without the Build Back better Act. Last week, Research findingsThe child poverty rate increased by 41 percent when the expanded child credit ended, putting tens of thousands of children back in poverty. The Build Back better Act would have extended the tax credit. Democrats have attempted to make them permanent but Manchin and conservatives have rejected those proposals.
It’s unclear what issues Biden will address in his speech. He is likely not to focus on the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which was smashed by Republicans and conservative allies Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Silena of Arizona. As this week, he may address the Ukraine situation. announced sanctionsRussia for bringing troops into the country. He could also boast about vaccine statistics as the country comes off ofThis is the worst COVID wave ever.
But the glaring failures of Biden’s first year in office may go unaddressed. Many other financial safety nets such as the eviction moratorium and stimulus payments, as well the student debt repayment suspension, have been canceled or set to expire after the passage of one stimulus bill. The president is in the interim. Has evaded questionsHis failure to cancel student loans despite promising to do so during the campaign.
