Frustrated Democrats express alarm over Biden’s powerlessness
by Amie Parnes and Brett Samuels - 07/06/22 5:20 AM ET
President Biden is finding himself largely powerless to address a spate of setbacks in recent weeks that have sparked alarm among Democrats about the state of the country.
Biden has been dealt blow after blow in recent weeks: The Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade’s constitutional right to an abortion; the country is plagued by gun violence, the latest example falling during an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago; and rising costs for gasoline, food and other goods have frustrated the public for months.
In each case, Biden’s hands are largely tied, frustrating Democrats and contributing to the president’s political malaise.
He has signed executive action and a bipartisan bill aiming to curb gun violence. He has taken some unilateral action to lower gas prices, such as releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. And he has called on the Senate to alter the filibuster if needed to codify Roe v. Wade.
None of those steps were expected to do or will do much to slow the gun violence plague, dramatically lower prices at the pump or bring back abortion rights in states where the procedure is being outlawed.
And all of that is increasingly frustrating Democrats, who argue they voted Biden into office to enact change and are unhappy with the results.
A Monmouth University poll released Tuesday found 88 percent of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, with just 10 percent saying it’s on the right track, the lowest number tallied in a Monmouth poll since 2013.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/3546837-frustrated-democrats-express-alarm-over-bidens-powerlessness/
