President Joe Biden is accusing Republicans of making it more difficult for Democrats to do their job of “saving the economy from a catastrophic event.”
While delivering remarks on Monday, Biden criticized Republicans for refusing to raise the debt limit.
“Not only are Republicans refusing to do their job, but they’re threatening to use their power to prevent us from doing our job, saving the economy from a catastrophic event. I think quite frankly it’s hypocritical, dangerous and disgraceful,” Biden said.
He argued their “obstruction and irresponsibility knows absolutely no bounds, especially as we’re clawing our way out of this pandemic.”
Biden said Democrats are not expecting Republicans to do their job, adding, “They made that clear from the beginning.”
Watch Biden’s remarks below:
President Biden on Republicans: "I think, quite frankly, it's hypocritical dangerous, and disgraceful. Their obstruction and irresponsibility knows absolutely no bounds, especially as we're clawing our way out of this pandemic." pic.twitter.com/vLOGAVYicl
— CSPAN (@cspan) October 4, 2021
The president explained Democrats are just asking that Republicans do not “use procedural tricks to block us from doing the job that they won’t do. A meteor is headed to crash into our economy. Democrats are willing to do all the work stopping it. Republicans just have to let us do our job.”
He continued, “Just get out of the way. If you don’t want to help save the country, get out of the way so you don’t destroy it. We don’t have time to delay with elaborate procedural schemes which Republicans’ proposals require.”
Taking a swipe at the Trump administration, Biden argued, “Republicans in Congress raised the debt three times when Donald Trump was President, and each time with Democrats’ support. But now they won’t raise it even though they’re responsible for more than $8 trillion in bills incurred in four years under the previous administration.”
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told lawmakers last week they have until October 18 to increase the debt limit, according to CNN.
A reporter asked Biden if he can promise the country will not hit the debt ceiling, as the outlet notes.
He replied, “No I can’t — that’s up to Mitch McConnell. … I can’t believe that that would be the end result, because the consequences are so dire. I don’t believe that, but can I guarantee it? If I could, I would, but I can’t.”
CNN pointed out if lawmakers fail to raise the debt limit, Americans could lose payments included in Medicare benefits, military salaries, tax refunds, and Social Security checks. Additionally, it could cause Americans to lose their jobs and freeze COVID-19 aid.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) advised the president to convince members of his party to raise the debt limit on their own.
“Since mid-July, Republicans have clearly stated that Democrats will need to raise the debt limit on their own. All year, your party has chosen to pursue staggering, ‘transformational’ spending through unprecedented use of the party-line reconciliation process… I have relayed this reality to your Democratic lieutenants for two and a half months,” McConnell said in a letter.
He added, “Your Democratic majorities have no plan of their own to avoid default… I respectfully submit that it is time for you to engage directly with Congressional Democrats on this matter.”
