President Joe Biden will embark Thursday on the next leg of his post-State of the Union tour with a visit to the former swing state of Florida, home to an emerging Republican foil and two potential GOP challengers in a 2024 campaign.
The president is expected to drive home his pledge to protect Social Security and Medicare while in the Sunshine State, seeking to draw a sharp contrast with Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott, the architect of a plan that would sunset all federal legislation – including Social Security and Medicare – every five years and require Congress to approve them again.
The president’s decision to highlight that proposal drew the fiercest reaction from Republicans during Tuesday’s address to Congress, eliciting loud jeers by accusing some Republicans of supporting changes to the popular entitlement programs.
Even as Biden focuses on Scott – and is expected to name check the senator again Thursday – the presence of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump, who resides in Palm Beach, is certain to hang over the visit as the Democratic incumbent teases a likely 2024 reelection bid.
Biden offered a preview of his post-State of the Union message to union workers in DeForest, Wisconsin, as he moves away from trying to brand some Republicans as “ultra MAGA” or “mega MAGA” extremists in thrall to Trump. Instead, he appears ready to push Republicans on their plans to negotiate spending cuts in exchange for a debt limit increase, including proposed cuts to the social safety net.
“Look – a lot of Republicans, their dream is to cut Social Security and Medicare. Well, let me just say this: it’s your dream, but I’m gonna have my veto pen make it a nightmare,” he said.
The Republican Study Committee also previously put out a budget plan that calls for making several changes to Social Security and…
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