President Biden responds to questions from COVID-19 to police reform during town hall – WISN Milwaukee
President Joe Biden was in Milwaukee for several hours Tuesday night to take part in a CNN town hall at the Pabst Theater. He arrived in Milwaukee at 6:31 p.m. and the motorcade got to the theater at 7:17 p.m.A small group of Black Lives Matter protesters gathered outside.Before he arrived, members of the Burmese community rallied outside City Hall next to the Pabst Theater. They're demanding more action from Biden and Congress in Myanmar.While at the airport, Biden spoke with U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee), Tom and Kris Barrett and David and Erica Crowley. Earlier in the evening, before getting on Marine one, Biden said, "There's a lot going on in Wisconsin. Theyre as cold as the devil up there. They got a lot to deal with." This was Biden's first official trip since taking office last month. "I am so proud that President Biden has chosen Milwaukee as his first official visit! Milwaukeeans are facing issues such as housing and food insecurity amidst a pandemic," U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore said in a tweet. During the town hall with Anderson Cooper, Biden took questions from the audience of about 50 people on a range of topics from policing to the COVID-19 vaccine to reopening schools.He promised a majority of elementary schools will be open five days a week by the end of his first 100 days in office, restating his original goal after his administration came under fire when aides said schools would be considered open if they held in-person learning just one day a week. The town hall touched on a range of issues related to the coronavirus, from protections for small businesses to the administration's vaccination plans. Biden said that by the end of July there would be 600 million doses of the vaccine available, enough to vaccinate every American.But with many of his answers, he sought to emphasize the need for funding to achieve his goals. The town hall was aimed at selling his $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package directly to the American people, part of an effort designed in part to put pressure on Republican lawmakers and refocus Congress on speedy passage of the bill now that his predecessor's impeachment trial is behind him.Biden underscored how much he wants to move beyond Donald Trump on Tuesday night, repeatedly refusing to talk about the former president and saying at one point, "I'm tired of talking about Donald Trump.""For four years, all that's been in the news is Trump. For the next four years, I want to make sure all the news is the American people," he said, to applause from the audience. During the town hall, Biden also offered a flavor of the moderate stance that helped win him purple states like Wisconsin in 2020. He resisted a questioner's request for his administration to embrace the progressive goal of forgiving $50,000 in student loan debt, reiterating his commitment to forgiving just $10,000. Biden suggested one of the ways to improve policing was to provide more funding to police departments, running counter to calls from some progressives to defund the police. He also said he was optimistic about passing legislation to study police reforms. Biden also weighed in on the immigration bill his administration is expected to unveil this week. He affirmed that a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants is essential for any bill he'll support, but also suggested he'd be open to a piecemeal approach to immigration reform rather than a comprehensive bill, if necessary. In choosing Wisconsin for his first trip, Biden picked one of the most politically divided states to test his pitch that he has the ability to bring the country together after one of the most difficult periods in recent history. The motorcade left the Pabst Theater and at about 9:20 p.m.Before leaving Milwaukee, Biden escorted Gov. Tony Evers onto Air Force One and escorted him off. It's not known what they talked about. Biden plans to visit Michigan on Thursday.
President Joe Biden was in Milwaukee for several hours Tuesday night to take part in a CNN town hall at the Pabst Theater.
He arrived in Milwaukee at 6:31 p.m. and the motorcade got to the theater at 7:17 p.m.
A small group of Black Lives Matter protesters gathered outside.
Before he arrived, members of the Burmese community rallied outside City Hall next to the Pabst Theater.
They're demanding more action from Biden and Congress in Myanmar.
While at the airport, Biden spoke with U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee), Tom and Kris Barrett and David and Erica Crowley.
Earlier in the evening, before getting on Marine one, Biden said, "There's a lot going on in Wisconsin. Theyre as cold as the devil up there. They got a lot to deal with."
This was Biden's first official trip since taking office last month.
"I am so proud that President Biden has chosen Milwaukee as his first official visit! Milwaukeeans are facing issues such as housing and food insecurity amidst a pandemic," U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore said in a tweet.
During the town hall with Anderson Cooper, Biden took questions from the audience of about 50 people on a range of topics from policing to the COVID-19 vaccine to reopening schools.
He promised a majority of elementary schools will be open five days a week by the end of his first 100 days in office, restating his original goal after his administration came under fire when aides said schools would be considered open if they held in-person learning just one day a week.
The town hall touched on a range of issues related to the coronavirus, from protections for small businesses to the administration's vaccination plans.
Biden said that by the end of July there would be 600 million doses of the vaccine available, enough to vaccinate every American.
But with many of his answers, he sought to emphasize the need for funding to achieve his goals.
The town hall was aimed at selling his $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package directly to the American people, part of an effort designed in part to put pressure on Republican lawmakers and refocus Congress on speedy passage of the bill now that his predecessor's impeachment trial is behind him.
Biden underscored how much he wants to move beyond Donald Trump on Tuesday night, repeatedly refusing to talk about the former president and saying at one point, "I'm tired of talking about Donald Trump."
"For four years, all that's been in the news is Trump. For the next four years, I want to make sure all the news is the American people," he said, to applause from the audience.
During the town hall, Biden also offered a flavor of the moderate stance that helped win him purple states like Wisconsin in 2020.
He resisted a questioner's request for his administration to embrace the progressive goal of forgiving $50,000 in student loan debt, reiterating his commitment to forgiving just $10,000.
Biden suggested one of the ways to improve policing was to provide more funding to police departments, running counter to calls from some progressives to defund the police.
He also said he was optimistic about passing legislation to study police reforms.
Biden also weighed in on the immigration bill his administration is expected to unveil this week.
He affirmed that a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants is essential for any bill he'll support, but also suggested he'd be open to a piecemeal approach to immigration reform rather than a comprehensive bill, if necessary.
In choosing Wisconsin for his first trip, Biden picked one of the most politically divided states to test his pitch that he has the ability to bring the country together after one of the most difficult periods in recent history.
The motorcade left the Pabst Theater and at about 9:20 p.m.
Before leaving Milwaukee, Biden escorted Gov. Tony Evers onto Air Force One and escorted him off.
It's not known what they talked about.
Biden plans to visit Michigan on Thursday.
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