On Thursday, President Joe Biden visited the Senate to show unity among Democrats, but instead, he endorsed a Republican priority. With Democrats acknowledging the difficulties of getting much done in the closely divided Congress, Biden pledged to find areas of agreement between the two parties. During a caucus luncheon, he made good on his promise by announcing that he would sign a GOP-backed measure to reverse changes to the criminal code in the District of Columbia. Biden later tweeted, “I don’t support the changes D.C. Council made, such as lowering carjacking penalties. If the Senate votes to overturn it, I’ll sign it.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer accompanied Biden as he left the luncheon and said that Democrats are filled with unity and optimism and believe they can get a lot of good bipartisan stuff done in the next two years. Despite this, the Democratic Senate has been largely immobilized this year due to a lack of compromise from the new Republican House, and several Democratic senators have been absent due to health issues. Some moderate senators also vote with Republicans, making it difficult for Democrats to advance their policy goals.
Schumer has focused on Democratic accomplishments in the last Congress instead of making promises about the current session. During Biden’s visit, he said that the focus of the next two years would be on implementing their agenda.
Despite the lack of progress on Democratic legislation, Republicans have succeeded in advancing their policy goals by forcing votes on Biden administration regulations they see as overly burdensome. The Republican resolution that Biden supports would override the District of Columbia’s effort to revise its approach to prosecuting and punishing crime as the local murder rate has increased. Many Democratic senators have also supported or considered repealing the DC criminal code.
The Senate voted on Wednesday to overturn a new rule establishing how retirement plans should consider environmental, social, and governance factors. Biden has said he will veto the vote and keep the rule in place. Some of the only policy measures being considered this year are being put to simple-majority votes under the Congressional Review Act.
Due to extended absences among caucus members, Democrats have had to hold back on some controversial nominations. As part of Biden’s visit, Schumer said the pair would also discuss the contrast between Democratic policy priorities and House Republicans and the dilemma facing the GOP as they insist on budget cuts in exchange for debt ceiling increases.
Despite the challenges, Democrats remain optimistic about their ability to work with Republicans and advance their policy goals. Biden’s endorsement of the Republican measure is a step towards finding common ground and working together to address important issues facing the country. As the political landscape continues to evolve, it will be crucial for both parties to come together and find solutions that benefit all Americans.
