Biden's Tax Hikes 'Dead on Arrival'? Jean-Pierre Cites the 81 Million, Then Laughs: 'What's He Up To?' (March 8, 2023)

On the eve of President Joe Biden’s budget release, a reporter asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about the tax increases in it. “On the budget, just to follow up quickly on that, as you said, it will include a number of proposals for tax increases. What are Americans supposed to make of that, given that a number of Republican lawmakers have said that’s already dead on arrival?” [1]

Jean-Pierre went back to the 2020 election. “So I was saying this a little bit at the top where, when you look at the budget, it’s a statement of the President’s values. And if you think about the 81 million people who voted, they voted for a growing economy from the bottom up and the middle out,” she said [1].

She described the tax plan this way: “the specific piece of the President’s policy is the 400 — more than — someone who makes more than $400,000” [1].

The reporter pressed. “Should people see this within the broader context of 2024, as he prepares for reelection?” Jean-Pierre answered: “No, I get — and you’re right, the President believes in working in a bipartisan way.” [1]

The video above shows the exchange at the March 8, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the official transcripts published by the American Presidency Project [1][3].

”What’s He Up To?”

Another reporter pointed to Biden’s empty schedule. “This is the second day in a row where the President hasn’t had any public events on his schedule. What’s he up to?” [1]

The transcript records that Jean-Pierre laughed. “‘What’s he up to?’ ‘What is the President up to?’” she repeated [1].

She cited two calls with foreign leaders the day before. “And so the President is always working, always making sure that he — not even always making sure, he does have the American people at the top of mind every day,” she said. “And you will see him tomorrow for the big day as we roll out the President’s budget.” [1]

“Some. All of Them. One.”

A third reporter read out reported details of the budget and asked Jean-Pierre “if you would confirm some or all of them.” She laughed again. “Some. All of them. One,” she said, then: “Not at all, maybe.” [1]

The reporter listed “a 5.2 federal pay hike, which would be the largest federal pay hike since Jimmy Carter’s presidency,” and “a new 20 percent minimum tax for billionaires or people making over $100 million a year.” [1]

“I’m just not going to get ahead of the President at this time. You’ll see the budget very shortly,” Jean-Pierre said. “All right. So, zero for two,” the reporter said. “In less than 24 hours,” Jean-Pierre replied [1].

”We’re Just Going to Let It Play Out”

The same reporter moved to TikTok. “Is it the President’s intention to ban TikTok on U.S. phones if the RESTRICT Act passes and gives him that ability?” [1]

“I’m not going to get into specifics of — of the legislation. I’m just not going to do that at this — at this time,” Jean-Pierre said. “And we’re just going to let it play out.” [1]

“Because It’s True”

Asked why Biden was taking his budget on the road, Jean-Pierre said he wanted to lay it out “as it relates to the budget — and I keep saying this because it’s true — in a fiscally responsible way” [1].

”The Theme of the Day”

Another reporter began: “I know you don’t want to get ahead of the President’s budget —” Jean-Pierre laughed. “The theme of the day,” she said [1].

The question was about debt. “Just taking this topline number of nearly $3 trillion in deficit reduction over 10 years, still, the deficit is going to be huge over the next 10 years, and billions — or trillions of dollars will be added to the national debt.” [1]

“So, look, let’s let the President speak to his budget tomorrow,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

”I Would Refer You to the FDA”

A reporter asked about a drug shortage. “Medical experts say that a nationwide shortage of liquid albuterol, used for asthma and other lung conditions, is expected to get worse because there was a shuttering of a major manufacturer.” [1]

“So, I would refer you to the FDA,” Jean-Pierre said. “But this is certainly something that the FDA is tracking — has been tracking for months now.” [1]

By the Numbers

81 million: the Biden voters Jean-Pierre cited [1].
$400,000: the income line in Biden’s tax pledge [1].
5.2: the federal pay raise in the reporter’s question [1].
$3 trillion: the deficit cut Biden promised the next day [3].
$1.83 trillion: the actual deficit in fiscal 2024 [2].
April 24, 2024: the day the law forcing a TikTok sale or ban was approved [4].

What Happened Next

Biden gave the speech. In Philadelphia the next day, Biden said: “And the budget I’m introducing today is going to reduce the deficit by nearly 10 billion—3 billion over—trillion dollars over 10 years” [3]. For more on that speech, see HYGO News’ page on the Philadelphia budget speech.

The deficit grew. Treasury’s year-end figures show the deficit rose from $1.38 trillion in fiscal 2022 to $1.70 trillion in fiscal 2023 and $1.83 trillion in fiscal 2024 [2]. For Biden’s top economist two days later, see the page on Cecilia Rouse.

Congress moved on TikTok. Public Law 118-50, “Approved April 24, 2024,” included the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.” It made it unlawful to distribute or update “a foreign adversary controlled application,” and it named apps operated by “ByteDance, Ltd.” and “TikTok” [4].