In President Biden’s first State Of The Union, he urged for unity in Washington.
In the 62 minute speech last night President Biden tried to address the common ground and not dwell on the partisan issues that have divided Washington in recent years.
Russia and Ukraine Conflict
Kicking off President Biden’s speech he spoke to a top-of-the-mind concern among Americans the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine. In the first 11 minutes of his State Of The Union speech, he condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine.
“He thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world would roll over instead he met a wall of strength he never anticipated or imagined he met Ukraine people.” President Biden said.
The president was surrounded by lawmakers wearing the blue and yellow colors of Ukraine and waving Ukraine's flag. The emotional high point of discussing Russia and Ukraine was when President Biden recognized Ukraine’s ambassador.
The president also announced plans to close United States airspace to Russian planes. President Biden also made news saying the Justice Department will be joining a global effort to go after Russian oligarchs to ties with Putin.
“We are joining with European allies to find and seize their yachts, luxury apartments, their private jets… we are coming for you.” President Biden said.
Economy
Moving away from international conflicts President Biden spent some time focusing on the economy and inflation.
The President said one way to lower costs was by utilizing American manufacturing. “That means to make more cars and semiconductors in America more infrastructure, innovation in America. More goods moving faster and cheaper in America.” President Biden said
President Biden also addressed gas prices saying he understand people are hurting at the pumps President Biden said he and his administration is working hard to lower the price of oil.
Build Back Better
During the State Of The Union President Biden also talked about some pieces of the Build back better proposal saying he still wants to see legislation get passed to cut prescription drug costs, allowing Medicare to negotiate prices of prescription drugs, allow the VA to also negate prices, reducing the cost of childcare and, advancing the Child Tax Credit similar to the one families received in 2021.
President Biden also discussed the cost of insulin and explained that the cost of making insulin is 10 dollars but the pharmaceutical companies are charging 30x that amount.
COVID-19 Pandemic
President Biden also addressed the COVID-19 pandemic where it was very noticeable he did not wear a mask at all during the address in the Capitol building saying “Let’s use this moment to reset so stop looking at COVID as a partisan line.”
President Biden continued to push for a path to citizenship for dreamers and distanced himself from progressive Democrats on criminal justice reform “the answer is not to defund the police it is to fund the police… fund them.” President Biden said.
Bipartisan Support
During the State Of The Union President Biden also laid out his 2022 domestic agenda of what he’s calling his Unity Agenda that focuses on four issues that have Bipartisan support beating the opioid epidemic, tackling mental health, supporting veterans, and ending cancer.
His attempts for bipartisan support were ruptured when two Republican lawmakers Marjory Taylor Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boehert of Colorado.
Both Representatives yelled build the wall when he mentioned immigration and Boehert interrupted again when he was speaking of his son’s death blaming service members killed in Afghanistan during last year’s chaotic withdrawal. You could hear Representative Boebert yelling “you forgot 13 of them”.
The actions by both Representatives drew boos across the chambers and the two congresswomen were criticized by members of both parties throughout the night.
Miscellaneous
President Biden also addressed in his speech for a brief moment voting rights, gun control, the Supreme Court Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, thanks to Justice Bryer for his many years of service.
Critics
President Biden received some criticism after the speech for not addressing student loans, abortion January 6th attack on the Capitol, and, the 13 members that died in Afghanistan.
Rebuttal From Iowa Governor
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds gave the Republican rebuttal Reynolds is the 43rd Governor of the state and the first female Governor in Iowa. Before Governor Reynolds was the Lieutenant Governor along with work in the State Senate.
In Reynolds’s speech, she touted her response to the pandemic and how she led her state to be the first in the nation to reopen schools. She also discussed wanting to take the government out of our children’s schools and let parents make the decisions. Reynolds also talked about the need to pass voting legislation to prevent elections from being stolen.
Governor Reynolds repeatedly called the Biden Administration a failed Administration throughout her speech.
Keeping the tradition alive
Today President Biden is keeping the tradition alive of going on the road and the first lady will join him in Wisconsin and he will talk about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that passed last year.
The White House says he will continue to monitor Russia and Ukraine on the road today.
