President Joe Biden was caught whispering on Thursday that he will veto any Republican bills that come to his desk.
During a press conference, Biden whispered into the microphone that he will reject any GOP-sponsored bills, specifically “The Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act.”
I regret to inform you a new Biden ASMR has just dropped pic.twitter.com/lVradcY3Wr
— Danny De Urbina (@dannydeurbina) January 12, 2023
“If I’m not mistaken, what they’ve introduced — it also would totally eliminate the IRS,” the president is heard saying. “It feels good, except all going to be sales tax. Go home and tell your moms. They’re going to be really excited about that.”
“Come on,” he continued. “Is this how House Republicans are starting the new term: cutting taxes for billionaires, raising taxes for working families, and making inflation worse?”
“Well, let me be clear,” he added. “If any of those bills make it to my desk, I will veto them. I will flat veto them.”
This comes after “The Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act” recently passed the House of Representatives in a 221-210 vote. The bill, which is sponsored by GOP Reps. Adrian Smith of Nebraska and Michelle Steel of California, would rescind all funds to the IRS to prevent the hiring of tens of thousands of new agents to audit Americans.
“House Republicans just voted unanimously to repeal the Democrats’ army of 87,000 IRS agents. This was our very first act of the new Congress, because [the] government should work for you, not against you. Promises made. Promises kept,” newly elected House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said after the vote on Monday.
The Democrats’ “Inflation Reduction Act” granted an $80 billion increase to the IRS over the next 10 years, with more than half of that money approved with the goal of aiding the agency’s efforts to combat tax evasion. The money would have been used to fund 87,000 new IRS posts.
The bill will now go to the Democrat-controlled Senate, where it has little chance of progress amid opposition from the Biden administration. Vice President Kamala Harris expressed her opposition to the bill and said that President Joe Biden would not support the measure.
“For decades, some of our nation’s wealthiest individuals and richest corporations have failed to pay what they owe in taxes. Last year, President Joe Biden and I worked with Democrats in Congress to finally make sure everyone pays their fair share to help fund our schools, hospitals, military, and other critical priorities,” Harris said in a statement.
