President Joe Biden is taking aim at Congressional Republicans for not yet releasing a budget for the 2024 fiscal year.
“I told the speaker, as soon as he’s ready to lay out his budget, I’m ready to sit down,” Biden said on Friday, adding, “Now I’m hearing things like, ‘Well, we’re not going to have our budget till April or May, maybe even June.'”
He went on, “All this talk pushing me to get my budget done. I said I’d have it done by the ninth. I had it done by the ninth. I handed it to them.”
“Why all of a sudden can’t they get it done in March, or maybe even April, maybe even May? I don’t know, doesn’t sound like they’re on the level yet,” Biden added.
Watch the video below:
President Biden slams House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for not releasing a budget proposal yet:
— The Recount (@therecount) March 10, 2023
“Now I’m hearing things like, ‘Well, we’re not gonna have our budget until April, or May, maybe even June’ … Doesn’t sound like they’re on the level yet.” pic.twitter.com/vk2gWnEOiS
His comments come a day after he revealed his budget for the 2024 fiscal year.
It calls for increasing the Department of Defense’s discretionary budget to $842 billion, up 3.2% from the previous year.
Additionally, it would impose a minimum 25% tax on Americans whose wealth is greater than $100 million.
And the proposal would increase the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%.
Biden claimed his budget “reflects our values as a Nation — a Nation of good people, growing in a new age of possibilities, and standing as a beacon to the world.”
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) gave the proposal a cold reception as he tweeted, “President Biden just delivered his budget to Congress, and it is completely unserious. He proposes trillions in new taxes that you and your family will pay directly or through higher costs.”
“Mr. President: Washington has a spending problem, NOT a revenue problem,” he added.
President Biden just delivered his budget to Congress, and it is completely unserious.
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) March 9, 2023
He proposes trillions in new taxes that you and your family will pay directly or through higher costs.
Mr. President: Washington has a spending problem, NOT a revenue problem.
Biden has expressed openness to sitting down with McCarthy to discuss budget proposals.
“I’m ready to meet with the speaker any time — tomorrow, if he has his budget,” he said on Thursday, adding, “Lay it down, tell me what you want to do. I’ll show you what I want to do.”
House Republicans have said they are working to meet the April 15 deadline to unveil their budget.