PHILADELPHIA (Fwrd Axis) — President Joe Biden appeared hopeful at a luncheon with House Democrats on Friday, imploring them to tout the successes of their legislative agenda for the midterm elections later this year despite a grim outlook.
Speaking at a party retreat in Philadelphia, Biden spoke about the biggest accomplishments from his administration over the past year but declined to say where Democrats should go moving forward.
“Few pieces of legislation — no hyperbole — have done more in U.S. history have done more to lift this country out of a crisis than what you did,” Biden said.
The President touted the $2 trillion pandemic aid bill that passed nearly a year ago and the bipartisan infrastructure deal that was “going to literally transform America.”
Biden thanked his party for passing the $1.5 trillion government funding bill this week, which includes aid to Ukraine in Russia’s war.
“We created 6.7 million jobs last year, more than any other time in American history,” he said, pointing to a jobless rate down to 3.8 percent and the “best economic growth in the last four decades.”
“And let’s be clear. We did it alone, without one single solitary Republican vote.”
However, Biden’s lack of direction will likely enfurate House Democrats with worries over inflation and their party leader having sagging approval ratings in the low 40s ever since last August. However, Biden’s approval ratings seem to be rebounding slightly with a nearly two point jump in his approval and a 2.5 decrease in his disapproval rating.
Democrats are divided on how to move forward with how to hang on to their slim majority in both chambers. Some want to promote their victories and focus on bipartisan opportunities while others say that is not enough and want to pass one more piece of legislation.
With Republicans projected to win the House and the Senate a toss-up, Biden urged Democrats to keep fighting and offered a gloomy outlook if the GOP retakes Congress this fall.
“The only thing I’ll have then is the veto pen,” he said. Biden added “it will be a sad, sad two years” if Republicans gains control of Congress in the midterms.
Biden said prices are high in the U.S. for two reasons: Covid’s impact on supply chains and the war in Ukraine driving up gas prices. “Make no mistake, inflation’s largely the fault of Putin,” he said.
“Look, we have an ambitious agenda. So let’s go get it done,” Biden said.
