President Joe Biden concluded his speech at Irvine Valley College on Friday. Here are some highlights for now, and we’ll have full coverage soon:
3:30 p.m
President Joe Biden is optimistic about America’s future
“We’re making progress by giving people a little more room to breathe,” he said. “Here’s the bottom line – when it really is time to do something about inflation around the kitchen table, Republicans in Congress won’t say anything. If Republicans take control, prices will continue to rise, and so will inflation.”
Before Biden finished his remarks, he added:
“I don’t care if you’re Republican or Democrat or independent, the idea that people can charge 30, 40, 50, 60 times what it costs to produce a drug just doesn’t make sense, if.” there is no alternative.”
After he finished his speech, Biden moved a bit through the crowd to speak to some in attendance.
The President’s speech is over. He praised MP Katie Porter, who is up for re-election this year, and offered hope in the face of inflation/rising costs: “We’re making progress by giving people a little more breathing room.”
— Kaitlyn Schallhorn (@K_Schallhorn) October 14, 2022
3:18 p.m
President Joe Biden focused on high prescription costs during his speech Friday at Irvine Valley College.
He railed against pharmaceutical companies that have raised prices. He said an autoimmune drug he didn’t name rose $1,000.
“Who in God’s name do they think they are?” he said.
Biden said Medicare now has the power to negotiate drug prices, which means more money at the end of the month. “It’s a gigantic changeover.”
3:12 p.m
President Joe Biden discusses the demonstrations in Iran before beginning his scheduled remarks about the high cost to families.
“Iran must end violence against its own citizens simply by exercising their basic rights,” Biden said.
President Biden begins his speech on healthcare costs by acknowledging the Iranian protesters outside.
“Iran must end violence against its own citizens simply by exercising its basic rights” pic.twitter.com/H7v32nKX5v
— Kaitlyn Schallhorn (@K_Schallhorn) October 14, 2022
An estimated 1,000 people gathered around Irvine Valley College to draw attention to the situation in Iran.
Biden then praised Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, who joined him at the event.
“Everyone respects you,” Biden said. “You are a big deal.”
3:07 p.m
Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, opens the performance at Irvine Valley College by announcing the Biden administration’s efforts to reduce prescription drug prices.
“You can stand with big drug companies or you can stand with families,” she said.
Susan Myer discusses how high prescription prices impacted her mother’s health and says she only took half of her prescriptions.
3 pm
President Joe Biden is on hand at Irvine Valley College, where he will be speaking near Hart High School.
He arrived in cool weather; It’s 8 degrees warmer in Portland, Oregon, his next stop on Friday after leaving Orange County.
This is where President Biden is scheduled to speak in Irvine this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/PH9gjaesQa
— Kaitlyn Schallhorn (@K_Schallhorn) October 14, 2022
2:47 p.m
President Joe Biden was greeted in Irvine by a crowd of protesters who lined the sidewalks around Irvine Valley College.
An organizer of the demonstration said at least 1,000 people had surrounded the college — some arriving there early Friday morning — to draw attention to the demonstrations in Iran and urge world leaders, including Biden, to be more vocal in condemning the current regime .
“There are many world leaders who say — we’re pro-human rights, we’re pro-people, we’re pro-women — but not only are they not taking action, they’re supporting these regimes,” said Nick Nikbakht, an Orange County resident.
“This is a revolution. It will end up taking too long and spilling a lot more blood and we don’t want that,” he added.
“We know things are being said via Twitter and press releases, but we want (Biden) to come out and condemn this regime. We want him to say, “We do not accept you as the legitimate regime of Iran because you are killing your people.”
According to Nikbakht, the Iranian protesters were not protesting against Biden or in favor of a previous president. The goal was instead to show how Iranians are mobilizing around the world, even in the US
But several dozen protesters stood guard at the gates of the Irvine Valley, with Christian flags flying alongside those cursing Biden and Gov. Gavin Newsom. Jeeps and trucks with large blue flags in support of former President Donald Trump roared past with honks and cheers.
Cecilia Garcia, an Irvine resident, said she wanted to send a message to the president: “He’s not welcome here. It’s a mistake if he thinks Orange County is blue.”
Garcia said she’s worried about rising prices since immigrating to the United States from Mexico ten years ago. She said she has friends who live near San Diego who cross the border into Tijuana to buy cheaper goods.
2:40 p.m
At least several hundred protesters line the sidewalks around the college where President Biden will speak this afternoon.
They say they want regime change in Iran and want world leaders, including Biden, to be more forceful in condemning the regime. pic.twitter.com/1UZdsKresu
— Kaitlyn Schallhorn (@K_Schallhorn) October 14, 2022
A mix of Trump supporters and people supporting the Iran protests gather outside Irvine Valley College, where President Biden is scheduled to speak later in the afternoon. pic.twitter.com/ThcgKOEOP5
— Kaitlyn Schallhorn (@K_Schallhorn) October 14, 2022
Original story
As President Joe Biden In Southern California, politics is fiscal.
With the crucial midterm elections looming, the President is heading to Irvine Valley College on Friday afternoon to promote the Inflation Reduction Act, a Democrat achievement, and an executive order the White House announced earlier Friday that outlines ways to reduce inflation Prescription drug costs are expected to increase.
Orange County Station Bookends a three day tour of the Southlandwhere Biden has promoted caps on monthly insulin prices for Medicare beneficiaries and announced that Social Security benefits will increase by an average of $140 per month.
Still, Biden conceded the impact of inflation across the country.
“Americans are pressured by the cost of living,” Biden said in Los Angeles. “It’s been like this for years, and people don’t need a report to tell them they’re being crushed.”
The most recent CPI didn’t show much relief in Southern California. In Los Angeles and Orange counties Consumer prices are rising at an annual rate of 7.8% versus 4.6% a year ago.
Grocery store prices are up 13% in a year, compared to 5.4% a year ago in Los Angeles and Orange counties. And renters paid 5.3% more this year, compared to 1.1% a year ago.
Gasoline prices in Orange County for regular fuel averaged $6.09 — higher than the national average of $3.90, according to the American Automobile Association.
And that’s the message Republicans used before Biden’s visit. Hallie Balch, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, claims local Democratic officials are “distancing” from the president “because his administration has done nothing but exacerbate inflation and fail on basic issues like safety and security.”
However, Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, will perform with Biden at Irvine Valley College.
On Thursday evening, the President attended a fundraiser hosted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He is expected to travel to Portland, Oregon later Friday.
The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law earlier this year, requires Medicare to begin negotiating the price of certain drugs starting next year. It’s a controversial provision, leading the pharmaceutical industry to consider legal action to block implementation. Republicans have proposed legislation that would also deprive Medicare of its ability to negotiate.
But the law also makes vaccines free and limits out-of-pocket drug spending to $2,000 by 2025.
This story will be updated throughout the day with details of Biden’s visit to Orange County. Please visit us at a later time.
Staff writer Steve Scauzillo and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
