Rep. Hakeem Jeffries: ‘Biden Has Done a Very Good Job Under Incredibly Difficult Circumstances’

(CNSNews.com) – Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who serves as chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said Sunday that he’s confident that Democrats will be able to hold onto the majority in Congress despite President Biden’s low poll numbers.

“I’m very confident that we will be able to hold on to the majority. President Biden has done a very good job under incredibly difficult circumstances,” the congressman told CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

“I understand that the electorate, of course, is going to be unsettled, experiencing COVID fatigue, inflationary pressures, high gas prices, a war in Ukraine, a radical, extreme Republican Party that doesn’t appear to believe in democracy any longer, and so this is a tough moment for our country, but President Biden has been very decisive in his leadership, beginning with the American Rescue Plan,” he said. 

“We rescued the economy, put shots in arms and money in pockets, kids back in school, laid the foundation for a robust economic recovery that has led to more than eight million good-paying jobs being created and unemployment at 3.6 percent. That’s a tremendous start. Of course, there’s more that needs to be done,” Jeffries said.

When asked to respond to polling that said a third of Democrats call their party weak, particularly among young people, and whether there’s time for a change in congressional leadership, the congressman said, “No, I think, led by Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer, we’ve been acting decisively.

“Just this week, we responded by passing legislation to address the price gouging that we believe, particularly as it relates to the oil and gas industry, is taking place and hurting the American consumer. We, of course, passed legislation to deal with the rise in domestic terrorism and white supremacy in this country,” Jeffries said.

“The president said that law wasn’t needed,” host Margaret Brennan pointed out.

“Unfortunately, every single Republican, except for about one or two, voted against this in the immediate aftermath of the tragic massacre in Buffalo. So, we are acting decisively, but I think we do have to crystallize the differences between what we’re about and what Republicans are all about,” Jeffries said.

“It’s clear that Washington Republicans want to raise taxes on everyday Americans, on police officers, on firefighters, on nurses, on factory workers, on grocery store clerks, and we are trying to provide them with relief. The Republicans, including your prior guest, actually want to end Social Security and Medicare as we know it in five years, forcing it to sunset,” he said.

“Those are serious differences between the two parties, and I think, once the voters understand that dynamic, the choice will be as clear as a sunny day in San Diego,” the congressman said.

From CNSNews - READ ORIGINAL

Some media, including videos, may only be available to view at the original.