President Biden visits key swing states as midterm crunch time begins

President Biden visits key swing states as midterm crunch time begins

Updated: 3:34 PM EDT Sep 5, 2022

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I WOULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT COPS, FIREFIGHTERS, NURSES. WITHOUT PAINTERS, PILOTS, AUTOWORKERS, CUSTODIANS, CARPENTERS, GROCERY STORE WORKERS, STEEL METALWORKERS. THAT IS NOT A JOKE. I GOT ELECTED WHEN I WAS 29 YEARS OLD TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE FROM THE STATE THAT HAD BEEN RIGHT TO WORK. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE UNION LABOR ENDORSED ME AND FOUGHT FOR ME. [APPLAUSE] THE BAD NEWS — THE MIDDLE-CLASS BUILT AMERICA. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT. BUT UNIONS BUILT THE MIDDLE-CLASS. THAT IS A FACT. LOOK, FOLKS. I BELIEVE WE ARE AT AN INFLECTION POINT IN AMERICAN HISTORY. I MEAN THAT. IT COMES AROUND EVERY FIVE OR SIX GENERATIONS. ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE EVERYTHING IS CHANGING. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK WHETHER WE WANT TO BE A COUNTRY THAT MOVES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. ARE WE GOING TO BUILD A FUTURE OR OBSESS ABOUT THE PAST? WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT HAS COME OUT OF EVERY CRISIS WE HAVE EVER FACED STRONGER THAN WE WENT IN IT. NO OTHER NATION HAS DONE THAT. WE DO IT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN A NATION OF UNITY, HOPE, OPTIMISM. NOT VIOLENCE AND HATRED BEING PREACHED BY OTHERS. I WANT TO BE CLEAR UP FRONT. NOT EVERY REPUBLICAN IS A MAGA REPUBLICAN, NOT EVERY REPUBLICAN EMBRACES THAT IDEOLOGY. I’VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH MAINSTREAM REPUBLICANS MY WHOLE CAREER. BUT THE EXTREMES IN CONGRESS HAVE CHOSEN TO GO BACKWARDS, FULL OF ANGER, VIOLENCE, HATE AND DIVISION. TOGETHER, WE CAN AND MUST CHOOSE A DIFFERENT PATH FORWARD. I REALLY MEAN IT. WE HAVE TO. A FUTURE OF UNITY, HOPE, OPTIMISM. WE ARE GOING TO CHOOSE TO BUILD A BETTER AMERICA. THERE IS NO QUESTION IT HAS BEEN A HARD FEW YEARS. BUT WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY. TODAY, COVID NO LONGER CONTROLS OUR LIVES. MORE AMERICANS ARE WORKING ANYTIME THEN IN ALL AMERICAN HISTORY. LAST YEAR, MORE PEOPLE APPLIED TO START SMALL BUSINESSES THAN ANY YEAR IN HISTORY. IT DID NOT JUST HAPPEN. WE NEVER GAVE UP. WE NEVER GAVE IN. AND WE ARE DELIVERING FOR WORKING AND MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICANS NOW. NOW. [APPLAUSE] NEARLY 10 MILLION NEW JOBS, MORE JOBS HAVE BEEN CREATED AT THIS POINT THAN ANY PRESIDENT IN HISTORY. WAGES ARE UP, UNEMPLOYMENT REMAINS NEAR A 50 YEAR LOW. THE BIG REASON IS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN I SIGNED INTO LAW SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFFICE. WITH THE HELP OF YOUR DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THAT IS HOW WE GOT IT DONE. NOT ONE SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTE. THE PLAN TOOK AMERICA FROM ECONOMIC CRISIS TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY. IN WISCONSIN, YOUR GOVERNOR AND MAYOR OF MILWAUKEE USED THAT MONEY TO GET IS SUPPOSED TO BE USED. KEEPING CITY WORKERS ON THE JOB IN THE FACE OF RISING COSTS, KEEPING STREETS SAFE BY FIXING STREETLIGHTS, TRAINING 130 NEW FIREFIGHTERS, HIRING CLOSE TO 200 MORE POLICE OFFICERS. NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR THAT, NOT A SINGLE ONE. EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN IN CONGRESS VOTED AGAINST THAT FUNDING. LET ME REMIND YOU — I MEAN IT. LET ME REMIND YOU WHAT ELSE IS IN THAT PLAN. THE BUTCH LEWIS ACT. FOR TOO LONG, MOST AMERICANS DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN DIVING TRUCKS TO FACTORIES FOR STORES, BAGGING GROCERIES, BUILDING OUR ROADS AND MORE. WITH EACH PAYCHECK, EMPLOYEES PUT MONEY INTO THE PENSION PLAN. BUT SOME MONEYS DID NOT SET ASIDE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR THE PLANS AND HUNDREDS OF PENSIONS, 2 MILLION TO 3 MILLION WORKERS AND RETIREES ARE GOING INSOLVENT. MILLIONS AT RISK OF LOSING RETIREMENT SECURITY, THROUGH NO FAULT OF YOUR OWN. THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, WE PASSED THE BUTCH LEWIS ACT TO PROTECT PENSIONS ALL OF YOU WORK SO HARD FOR. PENSIONS YOU SACRIFICE FOR. SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS FOR UNION WORKERS AND RETIREES IN OVER 50 YEARS. I WILL SAY IT AGAIN. NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN VOTED TO PROTECT YOUR PENSIONS, NOT ONE. I KNOW A LOT OF THEM WANTED TO VOTE FOR IT, THEY ARE AFRAID OF LOSING PRIMARIES IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. THEY ALSO PASS ONCE IN A GENERATION INVESTMENT MISSIONS ROADS, HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES, RAILROADS, PORTS, HIGH-SPEED INTERNET. YOUR GOVERNOR HAS REPAIRED OVER 5000 MILES OF ROADS AND BRIDGES IN WISCONSIN ALONE. JUST A START. WE WILL, WHEN THIS IS OVER, HAVE THE BEST INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. THE SINGLE BEST IN THE WORLD. [APPLAUSE] THAT MEANS JOBS. THAT MEANS WE CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WORLD. YOU CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT THE BEST PORTS, WITHOUT THE BEST AIRPORTS . I WILL NOT GO ON, BUT THE POINT IS YOU CANNOT DO IT. IT IS ESTIMATED 40% OF HOMES STILL HAVE LEAD PIPES FOR WATER. BECAUSE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, THE CITY IS RECEIVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE THOSE LEAD PIPES TO MAKE SURE FAMILIES HAVE SAFE DRINKING WATER. YOUR CHILD SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT TURNING ON THE FAUCET WERE GOING TO SCHOOL TO THE WATER FOUNTAIN, WORRIED ABOUT ANY KIND OF LEAD IN THE WATER. IT IS THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN AMERICA SINCE PRESIDENT EISENHOWER’S INTERSTATE HIGHWAY ACT. WE MADE SURE THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAW INCLUDED SIGNIFICANT LABOR PROTECTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS ARE SUBJECT TO DAVIS. IT IS NOT JUST BECAUSE I WANTED TO HELP UNIONS. IT IS SIMPLE. YOU ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD. THAT IS NOT HYPERBOLE, NOT A JOKE. YOU GENUINELY ARE. YOU JUST DO NOT DECIDE YOU WANT TO BE A PIPEFITTER OR ELECTRICIAN. IT TAKES YOU FOR TO FIVE YEARS OF HARD WORK, PRINT TO SHIPS. YOU ARE — APPRENTICESHIPS. YOU ARE THE BEST TRAINED WORKERS IN THE WORLD AND DESERVE TO BE TREATED THAT WAY. BY THE WAY, THOSE OF YOU KNOW ME , NO ONE EVER DOUBTS I MEAN WHAT I SAY. SOMETIMES — I SAY ALL THAT I MEAN. I HAVE MADE COMMENTS TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THEY UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE IT IS TRUE. I ALSO SIGNED THE CHIP INTO SCIENCE ACT, A GROUNDBREAKING LAW. WE WILL MANUFACTURE SEMICONDUCTOR CHIPS TO POWER EVERYTHING. SMART PHONES DISHWASHERS, AUTOMOBILES, NATIONAL SECURITY HERE IN AMERICA. WE INVENTED IT HERE. WE INVENTED IT HERE, IN AMERICA. [APPLAUSE] THE REASON WHY LAST YEAR INFLATION WAS SO HIGH, THE BIGGEST REASON? COST OF AUTOMOBILES. THEY COST SO MUCH BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE THE CHIPS TO MAKE THE AUTOMOBILES. HERE IN WISCONSIN, THE SENATOR MADE CLEAR YOU ARE READY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS LAW. WITH WORLD-CLASS UNIVERSITIES AND A WORKFORCE THAT KNOWS HOW TO MANUFACTURE PROJECTS HERE IN WISCONSIN. THIS LAW WILL CREATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS, BRINGING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT HERE IN AMERICA. WELL OVER ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS INVESTMENT IN AMERICA, REVITALIZING AMERICAN MANUFACTURING. WHERE IS IT WRITTEN, IT SAYS AMERICA CANNOT LEAD THE WORLD IN MANUFACTURING? WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT? WE HAVE EXPORTED TOO MUCH. NEXT WEEK, I AM GOING TO OHIO FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING OF A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR SEMICONDUCTOR ANY FRACTURING PLANT. — MANUFACTURING PLANT. THE COMPANY IS INTEL, ONE OF THE LARGEST INVESTMENTS OF ITS KIND. $20 BILLION IN AS A START. IT WILL CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS, THOUSANDS. 7000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS JUST BUILDING THE FACILITIES, 5000 PERMANENT JOBS FOR BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS WHO WILL MAKE 120 $5,000 A YEAR IN THOSE JOBS. — $125,000 A YEAR IN THOSE JOBS. MANUFACTURERS ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE COMING TO THE UNITED STATES. WIFE — WHY? BECAUSE WE HAVE THE SAFEST ENVIRONMENT AND THE BEST WORKERS IN THE WORLD. THAT IS A FACT. WE DO. I AM NOT JUST SAYING THIS, THIS IS REAL. LOOK, FOLKS. IT MEANS WE ARE GOING TO BUILD THE FUTURE IN AMERICA, WITH AMERICAN WORKERS AND AMERICAN FACTORIES, USING AMERICAN-MADE PRODUCTS. LOOK. SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW, BUT YOU AND THE AUDIENCE KNOW. 15% OF OUR MILITARY VETERANS BECOME UNION WORKERS WHEN THEY LEAVE THE MILITARY. 15%. HOW MANY VETERANS OUT THERE? HOLLER OUT. YOU’VE GOT IT. [APPLAUSE] IN MY STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, I PUT FORWARD WHAT I CALLED A UNITY AGENDA, INCLUDING TAKING CARE OF VETERANS. WE HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY, ONLY ONE SACRED RESPONSIBILITY. I MEAN THIS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I’VE SAID IT FROM MY FIRST DAY IN POLITICS. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO EQUIP THOSE WE SENT INTO HARM’S WAY AND CARE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES WHEN THEY COME HOME. ESPECIALLY OUR VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO TOXIC BURN PITS, LIKE MY SON. THIS PITS THE SIZE OF FOOTBALL FIELDS, 10 FEET DEEP IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ. I WAS IN AND OUT OF THOSE COUNTRIES OVER 35 TIMES AS VICE PRESIDENT. POISONS, CHEMICALS, JET FUEL, SO MUCH MORE. A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE MY SON WITH 300, 500 YARDS FROM THOSE PITS. YOU COULD INHALE IT. GUESS WHAT? THESE POISONOUS FUMES, PEOPLE CAME HOME WITH HEADACHES, DIZZINESS, CANCER. I JUST SIGNED THE PACT ACT TO TAKE CARE OF THESE VETERANS WHO NEED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. [APPLAUSE] AND TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES WHEN THEY ARE GONE. [CHEERING] FOR GOD SAKE, IS THE LEAST WE CAN DO. I LOVE YOU, TO KILL. — TOO, KIDDO. WE HAVE A LOT OF OBLIGATIONS. ONLY ONE SACRED OBLIGATION. THAT IS TO TAKE CARE OF THE VETS WE SEND OVERSEAS WHEN THEY COME HOME, I MEAN IT. I JUST SIGNED INTO LAW THE HISTORIC INFLATION REDUCTION ACT. IT WAS NOT EASY. TAKING ON BIG DRUG COMPANIES, BUT WE DID. I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THEM SINCE I GOT IN CONGRESS 180 YEARS AGO. WE PAY MORE FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THAN ANY MAJOR COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. OK? THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT. FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES, MANY OF US HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. BUT FOR DECADES, BIG PHARMA TRIED TO BLOCK GIVING LOWER DRUG PRICES FOR THOSE ON MEDICARE OR ANYWHERE ELSE. FOR DECADES, BIG PHARMA ONE YEAR AND YEAR OUT — WON YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT, BECAUSE THEY HAD HELP YOUR SENIOR SENATOR, RON JOHNSON. I WANT TO SAY WHAT HE SAID. HE SAID HE OPPOSED LOWERING DRUG COSTS BECAUSE IT RESULTED IN PUBLISHING — PUNISHING THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY. BLESS ME, FATHER, FOR I HAVE SINNED. COME ON. NOT THIS YEAR. WE BEAT PHARMA THIS YEAR. AND IT MATTERED. WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE PEOPLE’S LIVES. WE FINALLY BEAT PHARMA. NOW, MEDICARE WILL HAVE THE POWER TO NEGOTIATE LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES. WE CAN GUARANTEE NO SENIOR WILL HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN $2000 OUT-OF-POCKET FOR THEIR DRUGS FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR, NO MATTER WHETHER THE BILL IS $50,000, NO MORE THAN $2000, PERIOD. THE COST OF INSULIN WILL BE CAPPED AT $35. [CHEERING] BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO MAKE AND PACKAGE INSULIN FOR DIABETES? 10 BUCKS. 10. YOU NEED THAT INSULIN, YOUR CHILDREN NEED IT, YOU KNOW WHAT IT COSTS. BETWEEN 600 AND $1000 A MONTH, IT IS OUTRAGEOUS. GUESS WHAT? WE ALSO HAVE IN THIS BILL OF MINE, A PROVISION THAT AFFECTED PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ON MEDICARE. BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF YOUR SENIOR SENATOR AND OTHERS, IT GOT DEFEATED. BUT I AM COMING BACK AND GETTING IT. [CHEERING] IMAGINE — THINK ABOUT THIS. IMAGINE BEING A MOM OR A DAD, I MEAN THIS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. IMAGINE BEING A MOM OR DAD WITH A MOM OR DAD WITH THE KID WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES. KNOWING YOU NEED THE INSULIN AND YOU DO NOT HAVE THE INSURANCE. YOU CAN’T PAY FOR IT. I AM NOT JOKING, THINK ABOUT IT. THINK ABOUT HOW IT WOULD RIP YOUR HEART OUT. IT IS WRONG. SIMPLY WRONG. WE ARE GOING TO END IT. AT COST 10 BUCKS, YOU CAN MAKE $35 IF YOU WANT. THAT IS IT. [APPLAUSE] FOR DECADES, THE BIGGEST CORPORATIONS — BY THE WAY, I KNOW CORPORATIONS. I COME FROM THE CORPORATE STATE OF THE WORLD. MORE CORPORATIONS ARE INCORPORATED IN DELAWARE THAN EVERY OTHER NATION — EVERY OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY COMBINED. I COULD WRITE A DOCTORATE ON CORPORATIONS. IT IS NOT LIKE I AM INTO CORPORATION GENERICALLY — ANTI- CORPORATION GENERICALLY, BUT I DO THINK EVERYONE SHOULD PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. BY THE WAY, FOR DECADES, THE BIGGEST CORPORATION AND WEALTHIEST AMERICANS FOUGHT TO BLOCK A FAIR TAX CODE. REPUBLICANS PASSED A $2 TRILLION TAX CUT MAINLY BENEFITING THE WEALTHIEST CORPORATIONS UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. INCREASE THE DEBT BY $2 TRILLION. GUESS WHAT? IN 2000, 55 OF THOSE CORPORATIONS EARNED $40 BILLION IN PROFIT. THEY DID NOT PAY A SOLITARY PENNY IN TAXES. AND THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS, THE BILLIONAIRES IN AMERICA, YOU KNOW WHAT THEIR AVERAGE TAX RATE IS, THE FEDERAL TAX? 8%. THEY PAY MORE TAXES — FEWER TAXES THAN ANYONE OF YOU PAY. IT’S NOT RIGHT. IT’S OUTRAGEOUS. WELL, GUESS WHAT? IF YOU ARE A COP, A TEACHER, FIREFIGHTER, YOU PAY DOUBLE THAT FEDERAL TAX. IT’S JUST WRONG. BUT THIS YEAR, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WON. NOW BIG CORPORATIONS HAVE TO PAY AT LEAST THE MINIMUM TAX OF 15%. AT LEAST. THE DAYS OF BILLION-DOLLAR COMPANIES PAYING ZERO ARE OVER IN AMERICA. [APPLAUSE] AND THEY KNOW THEY CAN AFFORD IT. WHILE WE ARE DOING THIS, REDUCING THE FEDERAL DEFICIT, YOU KNOW HOW THEY TALK ABOUT RESPONSIBLE THINGS — THE LAST GUY LEFT ME WITH A GIANT DEFICIT. WELL, GUESS WHAT? IN MY FIRST YEAR, I REDUCED THE DEFICIT BY $350 BILLION. YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I’M GOING TO DO WITH THE DEFICIT THIS YEAR? $1,000,000,500,000 IN REDUCTION IN THE DEFICIT. AND, BY THE WAY, JUST BY ALLOWING MEDICARE TO NEGOTIATE DRUG PRICES DOESN’T MEAN MEDICARE HASN’T PAY THAT MANY TAX DOLLARS — HAS TO PAY THAT MANY TAX DOLLARS TO BUY THEM, THAT IS ALSO GOING TO REDUCE OVERTIME $300 BILLION IN THE DEFICIT. IF REPUBLICANS CARE ABOUT REDUCING INFLATION, THEY WOULD VOTE FOR THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, BUT EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN IN THE HOUSE HAS VOTED AGAINST IT, EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE. I ADMIT SOME MADE IT MADE — I ADMIT SOME THOUGHT IT MADE SENSE BUT THEY COULD NOT LET BIDEN HAVE A VICTORY. IT IS NOT MY VICTORY, IT IS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE’S VICTORY. [APPLAUSE] IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT WHILE DOING ALL THIS, WE LOWERED THE DEFICIT BY $1.5 TRILLION, AGAINST LOWER ENERGY COSTS, AGAINST THE VERITAS SYSTEM, EVERY SINGLE ONE IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE. EVERYONE. AND ONE THING MORE — WHEN FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT SIGNED THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT IN THE 1930’S, HE DIDN’T SAY IT WAS OK TO BE A UNION, HE SAID WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE UNIONS. ENCOURAGE. WHIL — WELL, I AM ENCOURAGING UNIONS. THAT’S WHAT I’VE BEEN DOING SINCE DAY ONE. TODAY SUPPORT FOR UNIONS IN THIS COUNTRY IS HIGHER THAN IT’S BEEN IN NEARLY 60 YEARS, THINK ABOUT THIS. YOU GUYS KNOW THE NUMBERS. UNIONS HAVE MORE SUPPORT TODAY IN AMERICA AND PUBLIC OPINION THEN ANY TIME IN 60 YEARS. — THAN ANY TIME IN 60 YEARS. I AM SO SICK AND TIRED OF TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMICS. [APPLAUSE] I COME FROM A FAMILY WHERE MY DAD WORKED HARD. HE WORKED LIKE HELL. WE LIVED A DECENT, MIDDLE-CLASS LIFE. WE LIVED IN A THREE BEDROOM HOME IN A DEVELOPMENT, AS THE AREA WAS GROWING. WITH FOUR KIDS AND A GRANDPA. I SOMETIMES WONDER — ANYWAY — IT WAS GREAT FOR US, BUT THOSE WALLS WERE THIN. BUT ALL KIDDING ASIDE, WE DID FINE. NO COMPLAINTS. WE DID FINE. BUT HERE’S THE POINT — THE BIGGEST CONTRAST FROM WHAT MAGA REPUBLICANS, THE EXTREME RIGHT, THE TRUMPIES, THEY ARE COMING FOR YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY, AS WELL. BY THE WAY — AS I SAID, YOU MIGHT THINK I’M MAKING SOME OF THIS STUFF UP AND IT’S OUTRAGEOUS, BUT HERE’S THE DEAL, GUYS, READ THE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN PLAN THEY PUT OUT THIS YEAR, GO ONLINE AND READ IT. SENDER RICK SCOTT OF — SENATOR RICK A FLORIDA HEADS THAT CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE. IT’S ALL IN BLACK AND WHITE. YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND READ IT. THEY WANT TO REQUIRE CONGRESS TO VOTE ON THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, AND MEDICAID EVERY FIVE YEARS, TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY CONTINUE. EVERY FIVE YEARS, THEY GOT TO VOTE TO CHANGE, TO CUT,, TO REDUCE, OR ENTIRE ELIMINATE — ENTIRELY ELIMINATE SOCIAL SECURITY. HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL? AND THEN — REMEMBER THAT SONG? THEN ALONG COMES RON JOHNSON OF WISCONSIN. HE’S ARGUING THAT FIVE YEARSIS TOO LONG TO WAIT TO SALVAGE THESE PROGRAMS THAT PEOPLE DEPEND ON. HE WANTS TO PUT IT IN THE CHOPPING BLOCK EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND TREATED LIKE ANY OTHER ISSUE. LET ME REMIND YOU. YOU PAY FOR YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE. YOU TAKE IT OUT OF YOUR PAYCHECK BY THE TIME YOU ARE 18 YEARS OLD, THE SAME GUY WHO SAID — HE’S THE SAME GUY WHO SAID THAT REPUBLICANS CAN CONTROL CONGRESS AND THEY ARE COMING AFTER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AGAIN. DENYING HEALTH INSURANCE TO ANYONE WITH A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION. THAT’S THE ONLY REASON THEY ARE ABLE TO GET IT. IF YOU HAVE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, YOU CAN GET INSURANCE BECAUSE OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. THIS GUY NEVER STOPS. BUT GUESS WHAT? I AIN’T STOPPING, EITHER. FOLKS, YOU AND I, WE OFFER A STARKLY DIFFERENT VISION FOR THIS COUNTRY. A VISION OF A FAIR AND MORE DECENT AMERICA. ONE WHERE EVERYBODY HAS A FAIR SHARE. WITH EVERYBODY AMERICAN IS TREATED LIKE MY DAD WOULD SAY, WITH DIGNITY. AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR WORK, NOT WEALTH. I’M GOING TO CLOSE WITH THIS — WE ARE A SERIOUS — WE ARE IN A SERIOUS MOMENT IN OUR NATION’S HISTORY. AND I MEAN IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. AS I SAID LAST WEEK, WE REMAIN IN THE BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF AMERICA. BY THE WAY — OH, RIGHT, GOD LOVE YOU. LET HIM GO. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, LET HIM GO. LOOK, EVERYBODY IS ENTITLED TO BE AN IDIOT. [APPLAUSE] LOOK — EXTREME MAGA REPUBLICANS DON’T JUST THREATEN OUR PERSONAL RIGHTS AND ECONOMIC SECURITY, THE IN — THEY EMBRACE POLITICAL VIOLENCE. LOOK. I’M NOT TALKING ALL REPUBLICANS. I’M TALKING ABOUT THESE EXTREME MAGA REPUBLICANS. THINK ABOUT IT. THE DEFINITION OF DEMOCRACY IS YOU ACCEPT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE WHEN THE VOTES ARE HONESTLY COUNTED. THESE GUYS DON’T DO IT. NAME ME A DEMOCRACY AND THE WORLD — IN THE WORLD WHERE THE LEADER ARGUES TO ENGAGE IN VIOLENCE. TO THIS DAY, MAGA REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS DEFEND THE MOD THAT STORMED — THE MOB THAT STORMED THE M PEOPLE DIED THERE. THEY SAID IT WAS BY MARGIE PEACEFUL PROTESTS. — BY AND LARGE A PEACEFUL PROTEST. COPS, ATTACKED AND ASSAULTED, SPRAYED WITH MACE. STOMPED DOWN AND DRAGGED AND BRUTALIZED. POLICE LOST THEIR LIVES AS A RESULT OF THAT DAY. AND THE MAGA REPUBLICANS SAID IT WAS A PEACEFUL PROTEST. FOLKS, YOU CAN’T BE PRO-INSURRECTIONIST — THERE IS NO DEMOCRACY WHERE YOU CAN BE PRO-INSURRECTIONIST AND PRO-DEMOCRACY. I MEAN WHAT I AM SAYING LITERALLY, YOU CAN SAY YOU SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CALL THE PEOPLE WHO ATTACKED THE POLICE ON JANUARY 6 PATRIOTS. THIS WAS AN ATTACK ON AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND ALWAYS DOWN FOR. IMAGINE IF YOU GO HOME THIS AFTERNOON AND TURN ON THE TELEVISION AND SAW SEVERAL DOZEN PEOPLE STORMING THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT, KNOCKING DOWN THE DOORS, THREATENING LIVES, TRYING TO OVERTHROW THE ELECTION OF THE NEW PRIME MINISTER, AND PEOPLE DYING. WHAT WOULD YOU THINK? I’M BEING DEADLY EARNEST NOW, HONEST TO GOD, WHAT WOULD YOU THINK? YOU WOULD THINK, THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRACY. WELL, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. THIS IS WHY AT THIS MOMENT THOSE OF YOU IN THIS COUNTRY — DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, MAINSTREAM REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS, WE HAVE TO BE STRONGER AND MORE DETERMINED AND MORE COMMITTED TO SAVING AMERICAN DEMOCRACY THAN THE MAGA REPUBLICANS AND THAT GUY ARE DESTROYING DEMOCRACY. BECAUSE DEMOCRACY IS AT STAKE. WE’VE GOT TO REMEMBER WHO WE ARE. WE ARE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THERE IS NOTHING — NOTHING WE CAN’T DO, IF WE DO IT TOGETHER. GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND MAY GOD PROTECT OUR TROOPS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ♪ >> IF YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING AND WATCHING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, ADDRESSING THE CROWD OF WORKERS, LABORERS AT MILWAUKEE’S LABOR FEST. THE FIRST TIME THE LABOR FEST HAS BEEN HELD BACK IN PERSON SINCE 2015 BECAUSE OF THAT SINCE 2019 BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WAS INTRODUCED BY GOVERNOR TONY EVERS AS WELL. HE SAID FOCUSING REALLY ON STRENGTHENING UNIONS IN HIS MIND, SAYING THAT AMERICA WAS BUILT ON THE MIDDLE CLASS, BUT UNIONS BUILT IN THE MIDDLE CLASS. HE TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO APPEAL TO THAT EVERY AVERAGE AMERICAN COMING OUT AND GREETING MILWAUKEE, SAYING HE’S JUST JILL BIDEN’S HUSBAND, WANTING TO AGAIN CONNECT WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. HE TALKED ABOUT PROTECTING PENSIONS AND INVESTING IN REAL ROADS AND BRIDGES. WE DID HEAR FROM THE LABOR COUNCIL AND THE WHITE HOUSE WHO SAID THAT THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL EVENT. THIS WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A VISIT THAT WAS TIED OR CONNECTED TO ONE CAMPAIGN OR ONE CANDIDATE. BUT AS YOU CAN EXPECT, HEARING FROM THE PRESIDENT, HE DID GET A LITTLE POLITICAL, TOUTING HAS RECENTLY PASSED INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND ITS IMPACT ON WISCONSIN. HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE PACT ACT AND WORK WITH VETERANS AS WELL, REDUCING INFLATION, THE NEED FOR THAT, AS WELL AS LOWERING THE DEFICIT. A LOT COMING FROM THE PRESIDENT’S SPEECH THERE. HE TALKED FOR A LITTLE UNDER AN HOUR, HE WAS EXPECTED TO START AT ABOUT 12:15. SO ABOUT FOUR MINUTES — 40 MINUTES THAT HE SPOKE AT THE SUMMERFEST GROUNDS. THIS IS JUST ONE OF TWO STOPS FOR THE PRESIDENT ON THIS LABOR DAY, HE ARRIVED HERE IN MILWAUKEE JUST ABOUT TWO HOURS AGO. NOW WE EXPECT THEM TO HEAD BACK TO THE 128TH WWING, WHERE HE WILL MAKE HIS WAY TO PENNSYLVANIA IN PITTSBURGH. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CREWS COVERING THE PRESIDENT’S VISIT TODAY. KEN WAINSCOTT IS THERE INSIDE OF THE ARENA. WE WILL CHECK IN WITH HIM AND HAVE THOSE REPORTS COMING UP TONIGHT AT 4:00, 5:00, AND 6:00. FOR NOW, WE WILL SEND YOU BACK TO REGULAR PROGRAMMING. >> YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE FROM WISN 12 NEWS. STAY WITH WISN 12, WISN.COM, AND THE WIS