(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday continued his sharpened attack on what he’s now calling the GOP’s “ultra-MAGA” agenda as he pitched his plan to tackle inflation.
His remarks came as the national average price of a gallon of gas hit a record high of $4.37 a gallon, AAA said.
“I want every American to know that I am taking inflation very seriously,” Biden said as he delivered remarks in the South Court Auditorium. “It is my top domestic priority.”
Inflation is one of the Democratic Party’s biggest problems heading into the 2022 midterm elections. Republicans have seized on higher costs to criticize Biden’s domestic agenda while the White House is pinning the problem on supply chain issues, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Biden used his speech on Tuesday to tout what he said were recent accomplishments aimed at alleviating the increasing financial burdens on Americans, including a historic release form the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to offset soaring gas prices.
Biden also used the occasion to continue his ramped-up rhetoric against the GOP, accusing Republicans of having no real plan to address inflation.
“My plan is to lower everyday costs for hardworking Americans and lower the deficit by asking large corporations and the wealthiest Americans to not engage in price gouging and to pay their fair share in taxes,” Biden said. “The Republican plan is to increase taxes on middle class families, let billionaires and large companies off the hook as they raise prices and reap profits in record amounts. And it’s really that simple.”
Biden has used one proposal in particular as a target: GOP Sen. Rick Scott’s pitch to have all Americans pay some income tax to “have some skin in the game, even if a small amount.” That would mean a tax increase on Americans whose income is currently too low to owe federal income taxes.
On Tuesday, Biden said Scott’s plan will hurt frontline workers like firefighters and teachers.
Despite Biden’s focus on the plan, Scott’s proposal hasn’t been embraced by Republican leaders. Instead, Sen. Mitch McConnell made a point to distance himself from it shortly after it was announced.
“If we are fortunate enough to have the majority next year, I’ll be the majority leader, I’ll decide in consultation with my members, what to put on the floor,” McConnell said. “Let me tell you what will not be a part of our agenda. We will not have as part of our agenda, a bill that raises taxes on half the American people, sunsets social security and Medicare within 5 years. That will not be a part of the Republican Senate majority agenda.”
Before Biden spoke, Scott tweeted that Biden was “unfit for office” and should resign. Asked about that after he finished his remarks, Biden said, “I think the man has a problem.”
White House press secretary Jen Psaki later Tuesday offered some insight into who they consider an “ultra-MAGA” Republican, pointing to those who voiced support for Scott’s tax plan or who would sunset Medicare and Social Security programs.
“And it’s also the obsession with culture wars and wars against Mickey Mouse and banning books,” Psaki said, declining to name any specific lawmaker. “The president thinks that is extreme.”
Psaki was also pressed on Biden’s focus of Scott’s proposal, given McConnell’s rejection of it.
“Are there any Republicans that you can think of that the president might be referencing that is currently behind us?” one reporter asked.
Psaki highlighted support from Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel — who described Scott’s pitch as one of the GOP’s “real solutions” — as well as Sen Ron. Johnson, who told Breitbart last month he agreed with “most” of the plan. Psaki also emphasized Scott’s role as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the campaign arm for Senate Republicans.
“Rick Scott is not a random senator, he is literally in charge of winning back the Senate for Republicans,” Psaki said.
Biden’s remarks on inflation come ahead of the release of April’s consumer price index. The Bureau of Labor Statistics will announce those numbers on Wednesday morning. In March, the consumer price index spiked 8.5% from the year prior–the largest 12-month increase in 40 years.
ABC News’ Ben Gittleson contributed to this report.
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