Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) listens to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan testify before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on July 18, 2019 in Washington, DC.
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Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) listens to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan testify before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on July 18, 2019 in Washington, DC.
Win McNamee / Getty Images
In a highly unusual move far from political protocol, Representative Rashida Tlaib delivered a positive response to Democratic President Biden’s First Coalition speech.
“With much of the build back to better program stalled, Mr. President, our work is unfinished.” Michigan Democrats said, on behalf of the Working Family Group to speak. “We are ready to start our work again.”
Tlaib’s speech detailed a progressive political vision for the future, from reducing prescription drug costs to massive investment in tackling climate change and preventing access to abortion. .
Tlaib said Biden could use his executive power “now” to cancel student loan debt and regulate carbon emissions.
She praised Biden for acting to get “shots in his arms” and providing “emergency relief” after taking office, saying he “stopped what could have been an economic slump.” economic.”
“No one has fought for President Biden’s agenda more than the progressives,” she said, adding that “two forces” stand in the way through Build Back Better, the main social and environmental spending package. by Biden.
“A Republican Party serves only the rich and powerful, and just enough of those who stand in the way of corporate-backed Democrats to help them succeed,” she lists.
Although Tlaib did not call out any legislators by name, her harshest words were clearly directed at moderate Democrats like Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who torpedo spending package in December because of concerns about its price tag and possible effects on inflation.
Tlaib said that while many “important pieces of the President’s agenda have become law with the infrastructure bill,” Democrats promised voters more.
“Bridges and roads are important, but so are childcare and prescription drugs,” she said. “And we don’t have to choose.”
Tlaib’s speech highlighted divisions between progressives and moderates in the Democratic party as they move forward Biden’s agenda as the party prepares for a midterm election cycle in which the party expected to lose seats.
Oftentimes, members of the president’s party don’t give a clear reaction to the state of the coalition and instead issue statements of support to keep everyone’s focus on the party’s leadership.
But Tlaib wasn’t the only Democrat to speak out after the speech. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, responded on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, DN.J., is expected to speak at an event hosted by No Labels, an organization Bipartisan oversees many PAC organizations.
Democratic Representative Elaine Luria of Virginia nodded to this break from custom, posting a tweet “Hi, my name is Captain Oblivious.”
But in a tweet ahead of Biden’s speech, Tlaib denied reports that her speech pointed to a discrepancy between the progressive and presidential agendas. “Despite some sensationalism, it’s simple: I’m giving a speech in support of President Biden and his Build Better Back program for the people,” she writes.
