Reflecting Days Later: President Biden comes at GOP fiscal policy in MLK Day address

President Joe Biden took the stage on Monday for an address in honor of MLK day, taking several shots at the new House Republican majority.

While speaking at the event, hosted by the National Action Network, Biden touted how his administration “decisively” rescued the American economy and he also vowed to veto major bills recently proposed by the GOP.

His remarks were made on a federal holiday honoring the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. 

While Biden said that his administration had accomplished much for the black community, he said that his Republicans are now trying to undo this after they won control of the House in the 2022 midterm elections.

“…We face another inflection point in our nation’s history — one that’s going to determine what this country looks like several decades from now. You know, this is a time for choosing. Will we choose democracy over autocracy or community over chaos? Love over hate?” Biden said, according to White House transcripts.

“With all of you here, together we’ve made some important progress. Two years ago, our economy was on its back — flat on its back. People were hurting, particularly in minority communities. Black Americans and other people of color were disproportionately hit.

“Our administration, acted decisively with the help of people in this room to not only rescue the economy from the pandemic downturn, but to lay the foundation for a stronger and more resilient and more equitable economy for decades to come.”

He continued, “And two years in, it’s clearer than ever that I think our economic plan is working,” touting the U.S. unemployment rate, which he said is “the lowest it’s been in 50 years.”

“And Black unemployment is near record lows. Wages for Black workers are up,” Biden said. “The two strongest years ever for small-business creation, including Black small businesses. Across the board, American families have a bit more breathing room.”

He later went on to discuss how House Republicans have moved to strip funding from the IRS, saying: “This is their first bill. And they campaigned on inflation? They didn’t say, if elected, their plan was to make inflation worse.”

“Plus, House Republicans introduced another bill on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, blocking action that would help lower gasoline prices and help consumers,” Biden said. “They’re preparing to vote on a third bill. They want a national sales tax… They want to raise taxes on the middle class by taxing thousands of everyday items … and cutting taxes for the wealthiest, because they want to supplant the money lost from taxes on the millionaires and billionaires with a sales tax on virtually everything in the country.”

He added: “Let me be clear: If any of these bills happen to reach my desk, I will veto them. Any of them.”