In his first address last night to a joint session of Congress, President Biden outlined the components of his American Jobs Plan for infrastructure and discussed his proposed American Families Plan, a major shift in resources for supporting American families from early childhood education to supporting elderly care. Biden plans to pay for the proposals through corporate tax increases -- reinstated to the levels under George Bush -- and income tax hikes on those making $400,000 per year. (You can find a brief summary of the President's three major initiatives is here ).
Biden noted the pace at which Americans have gotten vaccinated -- some 220 million- plus doses given so far -- urging everyone else to get vaccinated. He also touched on issues including policing reform, gun violence and the need for stronger background checks and limits on assault-style weapons, that dealing with climate change represents an opportunity for significant job growth, and repairing alliances while demonstrating to autocratic governments that democracy works. Overall, his speech was motivational and less partisan, certainly in contrast to his predecessor, with the folksy delivery and asides that are associated with him.
In snap polls after his speech, there was wide approval for Biden, as indicated by the CBS News /YouGov poll showing 85% approving and 78% saying the speech made them feel more optimistic about America. A CNN / SSRS poll showed similar results from the public, with 71% saying the speech left them more optimistic about the direction of the country, and 73% saying that Biden's proposals would move the country in the right direction. The political wind -- at least among the population if not Republican politicians -- is at his back, and he has that mandate to move forward without hesitation.
(photo: Biden speaks before a COVID protocol-limited Congressional audience, as VP Harris and Speaker Pelosi applaud. NPR)
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