President Joe Biden took a swipe at House Republicans on Friday, suggesting that they may decide to impeach him because inflation is cooling down. Standing in a textile manufacturing facility in Auburn, Maine, Biden pointed to inflation statistics that showed the U.S. has the lowest rate of price increases among the world’s biggest economies. While Biden made it clear that he was not taking a victory lap on the economy, he hinted that his Republican opponents may need to find a fresh line of attack against him due to improving economic circumstances. Earlier in the week, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had mentioned the possibility of launching an impeachment inquiry into Biden over unproven claims of financial misconduct related to Hunter Biden, the president’s son.
The White House has not engaged much with these impeachment efforts, choosing instead to focus on promoting “Bidenomics” and the president’s domestic agenda. Aides have downplayed any inquiry as a hypothetical and have highlighted the hesitation among McCarthy’s own party members about pursuing impeachment. President Biden’s visit to Maine aimed to emphasize his commitment to manufacturing and investing in America. During the trip, he signed an executive order encouraging companies to manufacture new inventions in the United States.
Biden acknowledged that there is still work to be done on the economy and emphasized his plan for turning things around. By visiting Maine’s 2nd District, where he lost the vote in the 2020 presidential election, Biden sought to show blue-collar voters that he is committed to them. In a narrow 2024 presidential election, a single electoral vote from the district could be critical. Biden was joined by Rep. Jared Golden, the Democratic congressman representing the district, who has openly criticized the president on certain policies but expressed support for “Bidenomics.”
Republicans have claimed that Biden’s policies have led to higher inflation, pointing to increased costs of groceries, heating oil, gas, healthcare, and electricity. The National Republican Congressional Committee attacked Golden, calling him “Joe Biden’s loyal foot soldier” who had previously supported inflation-boosting policies. The White House outlined the executive order signed by Biden, which aims to improve the transparency of federal research and development programs to meet domestic manufacturing goals.
At Auburn Manufacturing Inc., Biden highlighted the company’s efforts to challenge China on unfair trade practices regarding heat-resistant fabric. The executive order asks federal agencies to consider domestic production when investing in research and development and urges them to use their own legal authorities to encourage manufacturing new technologies in the U.S. When domestic production is not feasible, the order instructs the Commerce Department to create a clearer and faster process for obtaining waivers.
In addition to his visit to Auburn, Biden was scheduled to appear at a fundraiser in Freeport, Maine later in the day. Despite criticism from Republicans, the president remains focused on his economic agenda and is working to solidify support in key districts ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Original Story at apnews.com – 2023-07-28 20:58:00