WASHINGTON (WV News) — U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said she was “concerned” with the message President Joe Biden was expected to present in the annual State of the Union address Thursday.
Capito, speaking during her weekly press call Thursday afternoon, said she expected Biden to paint a much rosier and more optimistic portrait of American life compared to reality.
“If you look at what the economics are doing — people going to grocery store, filling up their car, trying to buy a home, pay for their heating, pay for their clothing — people are feeling a huge pinch,” she said. “More than a pinch, a squeeze, on their household budgets.”
Capito said she expected Biden to “wrap that in a bow and say it’s good.”
“When in reality it’s not and people are suffering,” she said.
The senator also pointed to rising rates of “violent crime,” particularly in the Washington, D.C., area.
“Actually, I’ve had members of Congress who’ve been attacked,” she said. “But I’ve also had members of my own staff. Four, to be exact, which is a lot, that have had incidents. Either a robbery or assault. I think that’s going on all across the country.”
She would like to hear Biden make concrete proposals to address immigration, Capito said.
“I’m hoping that instead of sloughing off blame on the Congress for our inability to pass immigration reform, I’m hoping he announces executive orders that will stop the flow of people and drugs at the boarder,” she said.
Capito said she also hoped the president would address energy issues.
“How are we going to power this country?” she asked. “I was in a meeting last night and they’re saying there is no way we’re going to meet the power demands with the current transmission and current energy mix that we have now.”
Despite her reservations, Capito said she planned to keep an open mind while listening to the address.
“I’m going to listen to the president, I’m obviously a big optimist and I want to hear an optimistic message,” she said. “But I want to hear a truthful one as well.”