President Joe Biden on Tuesday delivered his State of the Union address to a politically divided Congress for the first time, calling for permanent fixes on policy priorities like unaffordable health costs.
In one marked difference from his earlier speeches, attendance in the House chamber was at capacity with no covid-19 limitations in effect. And the lawmakers in the audience, both supporters and opponents, seemed to be in a raucous mood.
Our partners at PolitiFact fact-checked a variety of Biden’s statements — ranging from Medicare, Social Security, and the health of the economy to infrastructure and a possible assault weapons ban — during the 73-minute speech. You can read their complete coverage here.
Throughout the address, Biden highlighted bipartisan accomplishments and also talked back when GOP members heckled his claims. His warnings that some Republicans want to phase out Medicare and Social Security riled conservatives, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who replied from the back row by shouting “Liar!” as others booed. Biden responded, smiling: “As we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare [are] off the books now, right?”
Biden also took victory laps, some of which focused on health care initiatives. He talked about the savings to people and to the federal government that would result from allowing Medicare to negotiate what it pays for prescriptio …