President Biden pledged Monday to deliver for “red and blue communities” in a speech to local leaders that retraced his legislative victories and sought to broaden his appeal ahead of a tough reelection battle against former President Donald Trump.
He also scolded Capitol Hill Republicans for rejecting a bipartisan bill that would fund new border agents and give the president temporary authority to shut down the border under certain criteria for daily illegal border crossings.
“Tell your members in Congress to show up, show a little spine and pass the bipartisan border security bill,” Mr. Biden told 2,800 local leaders at a conference of the National League of Cities in Washington.
Mr. Biden positioned himself as the captain of a “great comeback story,” saying the U.S. is on the mend after a crippling pandemic.
He pointed to 47,000 projects and job creation from his bipartisan infrastructure law, plus efforts to expand broadband internet access and maintain clean drinking water.
Mr. Biden said the spending will keep jobs in America instead of sending them overseas.
The president is hampered, however, by issues such as unchecked migration at the southern U.S. border and stubborn inflation.
“I know the cost of housing is critical to families nationwide. [If] inflation keeps coming down, mortgage rates are going to continue to come down as well,” Mr. Biden said.
Mr. Biden said is proposing a $400-per-month tax credit for families seeking their first home or looking to “trade up” for a little more space. He is also pushing cities to convert empty office space and hotels into housing.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, Missouri Republican, criticized the tax credit proposal Sunday and said Mr. Biden is to blame for high mortgage rates due to high inflation.
“This misguided response to the interest rate crisis the president created will do nothing to lower the cost of mortgages, will actually drive up the cost further of trying to own home, and may result in triggering another financial crisis,” Mr. Smith said.
On immigration, he said the border bill negotiated by Democrats and a handful of Republicans deserves a roll call on Capitol Hill.
“I believe, given an opportunity, the House and Senate have the votes to pass it if they just bring it to the floor and vote on it,” Mr. Biden said, thumping his lectern for emphasis. “Up to now, politics has intervened.”
Republicans opposed to the measure said it would allow too many illegal migrant crossings daily. They also questioned the administration’s commitment to enforce new border restrictions, given the crisis that has already occurred on Mr. Biden’s watch.
Polls show Mr. Biden tied or losing in some cases to Mr. Trump in a fall rematch. Mr. Trump vanquished his foes for the GOP nomination despite a series of criminal indictments against him.
Surveys show that Mr. Biden’s advanced age is one key area of concern for voters.
The 81-year-old president joked about his age at the 100th anniversary of the cities conference.
“I’ve been a strong supporter but I wasn’t at the first meeting,” Mr. Biden said. “I wasn’t. Swear to God.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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