Biden touts legislative record as midterms approach
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden ended the summer on a legislative winning streak, chalking up victories that once appeared out of reach in this polarized capital. Now he wants to make sure voters reward him for that when they cast ballots in November's big congressional elections.
It's a tough task with gas and grocery prices still painfully high and the daily political news awash with contentious investigations into his predecessor and with repercussions in the states from the Supreme Court's ruling on abortion.
In an attempt to cut through it all, the White House is escalating its campaign to promote new laws designed to repair the economy and help consumers on a personal level, boosting crucial computer chip manufacturing, lowering prescription drug prices, expanding clean energy and revamping the country's infrastructure.
Biden, in a meeting with his Cabinet on Tuesday, said his administration has passed “extraordinary parts of our economic agenda" and provided “proof that democracy can deliver for the people."
His schedule is filling up with trips to promote his policies — Ohio on Friday, Michigan next week — in battleground states where Democrats are facing tight races with Republicans. And his administration is rolling out plans to distribute hundreds of billions of dollars authorized by legislation he has signed.
The president chose John Podesta, a veteran of Democratic administrations, to lead the $375 billion plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to fight climate change. The money is included in a huge bill — dubbed the Inflation Reduction Act by the White House — which also generates new tax revenue to reduce the deficit and limits the cost of prescription drugs.
“People believe that the legislative accomplishments are meaningful when they can...