A group of Republican lawmakers accepted Americans Capitol on Tuesday to hold their own event on the state of the Union, where they said Joe BidenThe address later in the evening will not give a true picture of the difficult situations facing the United States
The event, dubbed by the organizers as the “true state of the Union”, was led by the first three Republicans in the House of Representatives: minority leader Kevin McCarthy, minority whip Steve Scaliz and GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanick.
The event took place hours before President Biden took the stage for his first address on the state of the Union at the Capitol Building on Tuesday at 9 p.m.
There were eight other “concerned Americans” who were invited to attend as guest speakers, who then asked lawmakers what they would do if Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives in 2022.
Among the guests presented were a mother who lost her son to an overdose of fentanyl, a border agent who expressed how difficult it is to hire and maintain security during the ongoing crisis, and an Illinois high school student who spoke out against school closures and a mask of his governor mandate.
When the event kicked off, McCarthy praised the fact that the mask mandate had expired and that they could return outside guests to the Capitol. Representative Hearn later called the rules “arbitrary” while tearing up Mayor Muriel Bowser to implement mandates one day, not the next.
DailyMail.com did not see any of the legislators, employees, participants or members of the media wearing face coverage, as DC eased its requirement for indoor masks.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 81, said on Tuesday that she would not hide from Biden’s remarks about the state of the Union, although she was at high risk due to her age.
“People need to use their judgment,” Pelosi told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell.
From LR: GOP Whip Steve Scalise, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik held what they called a town hall-style event on Tuesday afternoon
One guest, Eric Flannery, co-owns a DC-based restaurant called Big Board, which was closed by Bowser because he would not impose mask and vaccine mandates on his staff and guests.
Hearn, who co-chairs the small business group and was a businessman before being elected to Congress, suffocated as he spoke to Flannery in front of other guests and lawmakers.
Flannery’s alcohol license was revoked after he opposed Bowser’s mandates, which were implemented in January and no longer exist. He said there was no way to appeal decisions during the ongoing “state of emergency” in the nation’s capital.
DC is a low-transmitting area, which means that according to new CDC standards, people are no longer required to wear masks indoors.
McCarthy said Biden would deliver “what he believes is the state of the Union”, but said he and other Republicans attending the event earlier in the day had “the true state of the Union”.
The event was attended by several GOP MPs who answered questions from “ordinary” Americans about what they would do to solve the problems if they regained a majority in the House of Representatives in 2022. Pictured: Representative Kevin Hearn (left) and Representative Katie McMoris Rodgers (right)
One of those present was Christy Diroff (pictured), a mother who lost her son to an accidental fentanyl overdose after he became addicted to painkillers after a sports injury.
“My servers are not second-class citizens,” Flannery said Tuesday as he spoke out against the mandates he was told to impose.
Several guests were also outraged by the southern border crisis and how the left treats border and law enforcement officials.
Speaking to the audience, Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC), said: “Under this administration, we are destroyed. Morality is the lowest we have ever seen.
He explained that it is difficult to recruit and detain people to guard the southern border when there is a feeling that there is no support from Washington.
Although the event at the Republican City Hall was scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m., it did not begin until 2:35 p.m., as members had to vote on a bill that addresses veterans’ disabilities and health benefits.
McCarthy said Biden would provide “what he sees as the state of the Union,” but said he and other Republicans attending the event earlier in the day had “the true state of the Union.”
National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd said “morale is the lowest we’ve ever seen” and explained that it is difficult to hire and detain border agents
Republican lawmakers and their guests complained during Tuesday’s event of rising crime in US cities, the southern border crisis, continued restrictions on COVID-19 in schools and businesses, additional educational issues and an economic catastrophe with 7.5 percent inflation and blocking the supply chain.
Ohio Congressman Jordan said, “I hope Joe Biden goes there tonight and says, ‘I’m going to reverse any stupid politics I have.’ I don’t think he will do that because his party is controlled … but [far] to the left. ‘
Amid growing economic concerns among Republicans and the general American public, a New York Times report revealed Monday night that Biden is expected to seek credit during Tuesday night’s address for a stable economy.
He is also expected to take credit for the massive global response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine last week.
Biden originally planned to deliver a speech focusing on internal issues, such as the steps to end the pandemic and the failure to accept his Build Back Better plan. But the conflict in Ukraine has shifted its focus to foreign policy.