Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement applauding President Biden’s 2024 State of the Union address:
“We saw a forceful, very hopeful message from President Biden tonight. The President made clear that he is energetically fighting for the middle class and putting a real check on corrupt corporate special interests and the fossil fuel industry, which ran the show during the previous administration. And he strongly addressed the climate crisis and pledged to rid our political system of dark money.
“I am very pleased to hear the President call for safeguarding Social Security and Medicare by having the wealthiest Americans finally start paying their fair share. Social Security and Medicare would be under threat in a Republican-run government. It is time to finally level the playing field so teachers and firefighters aren’t paying a larger share of their income in taxes than billionaires.
“There are big challenges ahead. Namely, tackling climate change and defending democracy and freedom at home and abroad. Democrats have shown time and time again that we are the only party willing and able to tackle these challenges. The battle isn’t won overnight, but we are using every available tool to fight hard for a better future for every American.”
Whitehouse’s Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act would shore up the solvency of Social Security and Medicare indefinitely by making the nation’s highest earners contribute a fairer share of their income. Whitehouse has also long championed the Buffett Rule, which would set a simple 30 percent minimum effective tax rate for the wealthiest Americans.
