Biden to Compare Economic Plan With GOP03/28 06:06

   President Joe Biden will visit an expanding North Carolina semiconductor 
manufacturer on Tuesday as he launches an extended effort to spotlight the 
impact legislation passed earlier in his administration is having on the U.S. 
economy and contrast his vision with that of Republicans as they square off on 
budget priorities.

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Joe Biden will visit an expanding North 
Carolina semiconductor manufacturer on Tuesday as he launches an extended 
effort to spotlight the impact legislation passed earlier in his administration 
is having on the U.S. economy and contrast his vision with that of Republicans 
as they square off on budget priorities.

   Biden's visit to Wolfspeed follows the Durham-based company's announcement 
last September to build a $5 billion manufacturing facility in Chatham County 
that is expected to create 1,800 new jobs. Biden had won passage last July of a 
$280 billion legislative package known as the CHIPS Act, which was intended to 
boost the U.S. semiconductor industry and scientific research.

   It's nothing new for the Biden administration to highlight the CHIPS Act, 
the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, the $1 trillion infrastructure legislation 
and a roughly $375 billion climate bill -- major legislation that the 
Democratic administration steered into law before Democrats lost control of the 
House.

   But now, just weeks after Biden unveiled his own budget -- it includes $2.6 
trillion in new spending -- his administration is looking for chances to lean 
into its battle with Republicans over spending priorities and who has better 
ideas to steward the U.S. economy in the years to come. Republicans have 
rejected Biden's budget but have yet to unveil their own counteroffer to the 
Democrats' blueprint, which is built around tax increases on the wealthy and a 
vision statement of sorts for Biden's yet-to-be-declared campaign for 
reelection in 2024.

   The White House says Biden while in North Carolina will highlight that his 
legislative efforts have spurred $435 billion in private-sector manufacturing 
commitments since he took office. That includes more than $200 billion in clean 
energy, electric vehicle and battery investments, more than $200 billion in 
semiconductors and about $15 billion in biomanufacturing investments, according 
to the White House.

   White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Biden wants to 
demonstrate "what's at stake if MAGA Republicans in Congress get their way and 
repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, hike taxes on hardworking families and 
slash funding for manufacturing innovation and research."

   Besides Biden's visit to Wolfspeed Inc., Vice President Kamala Harris, first 
lady Jill Biden and other senior administration officials will fan out to 20 
states over the next three weeks to highlight the impact of Biden's economic 
agenda, according to the White House.

   Biden has said he intends to run for a second term but has yet to formally 
launch his reelection campaign.

   His administration's effort to highlight legislative victories could also 
give him an opportunity to present voters with images of an administration 
focused on governing as the Republican 2024 frontrunner, former President 
Donald Trump, braces for a possible indictment.

   Trump is being investigated over payments during his 2016 campaign to two 
women who alleged affairs or sexual encounters with him. The ex-president 
denies being involved with either of the women -- porn actor Stormy Daniels and 
model Karen McDougal.

   Trump narrowly won North Carolina in 2020. Among the other states that Biden 
and administration officials will be visiting in the weeks ahead are Georgia, 
Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Wisconsin -- crucial battlegrounds that 
Biden won in 2020 and states expected to be competitive again in 2024.