Joe Biden Jousts With Republicans, Vows Crackdown on Live performance Ticket Charges in State of the Union

President Biden jousted with Home Republicans and challenged them to work with him on a bipartisan “unity” agenda in his State of the Union tackle on Tuesday night time.

The president pitched a handful of small-bore coverage initiatives — like combating bank card charges and capping live performance ticket surcharges — and engaged in a back-and-forth with Republicans over social security web applications.

“A few of my Republican buddies wish to take the financial system hostage until I comply with their financial plans,” Biden mentioned. “All of you at house ought to know what their plans are.”

When the president mentioned that some Republicans wish to slash Social Safety and Medicare, the Republican aspect of the aisle erupted in boos. Biden engaged in a back-and-forth, as some members might be heard shouting “liar.”

“If anybody tries to chop Social Safety — which apparently nobody goes to do,” Biden mentioned, departing from his ready remarks. “And if anybody tries to chop Medicare, I’ll cease them.”

The speech took on a raucous environment at occasions, as Republicans expressed their disagreement by shaking their heads or shouting objections.

They laughed when Biden mentioned he had inspired funding in oil manufacturing as a result of it could be wanted for at the very least one other decade. Additionally they objected loudly when Biden blamed former President Donald Trump for dramatically growing the nationwide debt.

The president highlighted the legislative achievements of his first two years in workplace, together with the infrastructure invoice, efforts to fight local weather change, decreasing the price of some prescribed drugs and a invoice to spice up home manufacturing of semiconductor chips.

He additionally provided a handful of proposals for the approaching 12 months, together with an effort to beef up antitrust powers and to go after tech platforms.

Biden additionally sought to capitalize on outrage towards Ticketmaster, highlighting a proposal to cap “junk charges” on tickets to leisure venues and “resort charges” on resort rooms.

“The concept cable web and cellphone firms can cost you $200 or extra for those who resolve to change to a different supplier — give me a break,” Biden mentioned. “We are able to cease service charges on tickets to live shows and sporting occasions and make firms disclose all charges upfront.”

He additionally highlighted efforts to eradicate non-compete clauses, which employers use to maintain their workforce from leaving to rival companies.

Biden started his speech by congratulating the brand new Republican speaker, Kevin McCarthy. However in his speech he additionally warned of the results of a showdown over the debt ceiling and challenged the Republican Congress to be candid about its funds agenda.

Biden additionally urged Congress to cross a police reform invoice, introducing the mother and father of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who was killed final month by Memphis cops.

“What occurred to Tyre in Memphis occurs too usually,” he mentioned. “We’ve got to do higher.”

He took notice of the latest mass taking pictures at a dance studio in Monterey Park, Calif., and urged a ban on assault weapons. He additionally famous Paul Pelosi, the husband of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was attacked with a hammer of their San Francisco house. He linked the assault to the assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6 and mentioned it was a symptom of a broader assault on democracy.

“We should all communicate out,” he mentioned. “There is no such thing as a place for political violence in America.”