Biden in Wisconsin: 'Don't Jump,' a 'Blue-Collar Blue Change' and 'Liar, Liar, House on Fire' (February 8, 2023)

The day after his State of the Union, President Joe Biden flew to Wisconsin to sell it at a Laborers’ union training center in DeForest. He started by switching microphones, according to the official transcript, then turned to people on the balcony. “Don’t jump. Don’t jump,” Biden said [1].

“Well, hello, Madison. Hello, Laborers,” he went on [1].

The video above shows the opening of Biden’s Feb. 8, 2023, remarks. Quotes are from the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project, which marks the White House’s corrections [1].

”All-State in Both Subjects”

Before the policy, Biden told a story about a granddaughter. “She’s going to graduate this year from college. But she’s—she played lacrosse and field hockey. I mean, excuse me, lacrosse and soccer, All-State in both subjects—in both sports,” he said [1].

He explained the delay in starting. “The reason we were taking a little longer is, I have a granddaughter who’s a hell of an athlete,” Biden said [1].

”A Blue-Collar Blue Change”

Biden’s pitch got tangled early. “And today I’m here to talk about one part of that vision: the economy that works for working people. This is a blue-collar blue change we’re seeing,” he said [1].

Later he found the line he wanted. “This is a blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America,” Biden said [1].

”Junk Free”

He then called for a bill and garbled its name. “So I’m calling on Congress to pass a Junk Free [Fee; White House correction] Prevention Act so we can do more than [to; White House correction] crack down on these junk fees,” Biden said, according to the transcript [1]. For how his earlier fee rules fared, see HYGO News’ page on the junk-fee speech.

”Liar, Liar, House on Fire”

Biden relished the State of the Union fight over entitlements. “My Republicans friends, they seemed shocked—[ laughter ]—when I raised the plans of some of their Members and their caucus to cut Social Security,” he said. “And Marjorie Taylor Greene and others stood up and said, ‘Liar! Liar!’” [1]

“It reminds of that ‘Liar, liar, house on fire,’” Biden said [1].

He then read from a brochure for Sen. Rick Scott’s plan. “All federal legislation sunsets every 5 years. If the law is worth keeping, Congress can pass it again,” Biden read, adding, “Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid” [1].

He went after two more senators. “Ron Johnson, on Social Security and Medicare, quote: ‘We should transfer everything so we have to consider everything every year,’” Biden said. He then quoted a video of Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah: “It will be my objection to phase out Social Security, pull it up by its roots, get rid of it” [1].

“Look, a lot of Republicans, their dream is to cut Social Security and Medicare. Well, let me just say this: It’s your dream, but I’m going to—my veto pen make it a nightmare,” Biden said [1].

”We Negotiated a Deal”

Then he claimed a win from the night before. “I found it interesting that when I called them out on that last night, it sounded like they agreed to take these cuts off the table,” Biden said [1].

“But it looks like we negotiated a deal last night on the floor of the House of Representatives,” he said, drawing laughter. “I’ll believe it when I see it and their budget’s laid down with their cuts they’re proposing” [1].

”Down More Than $1.50”

Biden also bragged about gas. “Gas prices are down more than $1.50, and we’re going to make sure the oil companies start playing their honest role,” he said [1].

That was measured from the peak. Regular gas averaged $5.006 a gallon on June 13, 2022, and $3.444 on Feb. 6, 2023, according to the Energy Information Administration. It had averaged $2.379 on Jan. 18, 2021, two days before Biden took office [2].

He also claimed a jobs record. “We’ve now created more jobs in 2 years—more jobs in 2 years than any President has created in a single 4-year term,” Biden said [1].

By the Numbers

$3.444: regular gas two days before the speech [2].
$2.379: regular gas two days before Biden took office [2].
5 years: the sunset period in Scott’s original plan, as Biden read it [1].
2: White House corrections in the “Junk Free” sentence alone [1].
10: Wisconsin electoral votes that went to Donald Trump in 2024 [4].

What Happened Next

Scott changed his plan. Nine days later, Scott amended his proposal. “Note to President Biden, Sen. Schumer, and Sen. McConnell – As you know, this was never intended to apply to Social Security, Medicare, or the US Navy,” the amended plan said, Fox News reported [3].

Fox reported that Scott had been “raked over the coals by President Biden and disavowed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.” [3]

Wisconsin went red. In 2024, Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes went to President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, according to the National Archives [4].

For the speech the night before, see HYGO News’ page on the 2023 State of the Union.