To advance agenda, Biden open to changes in Senate

President also says for first time he plans to run again in 2024.

President Joe Biden at his first news conference Thursday left the door open to backing fundamental changes in Senate procedure to muscle key parts of his agenda like immigration and voting rights past Republican opposition “if there’s complete lockdown and chaos.”

The 78-year-old president also for the first time said his “plan is to run for reelection, that is my expectation.”

Even as his administration navigates the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic damage, Biden is grappling with a host of pressing issues, including a pair of mass shootings, rising international tensions, early signs of divisions within his party and increasing numbers of migrants crossing the southern border.

The filibuster

The president preached the political expedience of caution in the face of mounting impatience among progressive voters eager for action on his ambitious legislative agenda. He teased changes to the congressional filibuster if necessary to achieve some of those goals.

Biden at first backed a modification — but not elimination — of the arcane procedural tactic, which stands in the way of getting the president’s agenda through the deadlocked Senate. But he then suggested, at least on certain issues, he would go further, saying the filibuster — which requires 60 votes to pass legislation in the Senate — was being “abused in a gigantic way” by Republicans.

“If there’s complete lockdown and chaos, as a consequence of the filibuster, then we’re going to have to go beyond what I’m talking about,” he said.

One key item on the list: Republican efforts to limit voting rights, an effort the president deemed “sick” and “un-american.” He argued that even GOP voters believe actions that make it harder for people to cast ballots are “despicable” attempts to undermine democracy.

The Mexico border

The president was repeatedly pressed about the situation at the U.s.-mexico border, where increasing numbers of young migrants have overwhelmed the government’s holding facilities. Biden promised better media access to the camps — once his administration has a better handle on things — as well as improvements to the nation’s immigration system and U.S. help to improve conditions in the migrants’ home countries.

“I can’t guarantee that we’re going to solve everything, but I can guarantee that we’re going to make it better,” he said.

Other issues

And in the aftermath of two mass shootings in a week, Biden was pressed on his plans for new gun violence laws. He responded that legislating is “a matter of timing” and then gave a long-winded answer about his infrastructure plan, which he said will be his administration’s next legislative priority.

Biden had held off on holding his first news conference until he could use it to celebrate progress against the pandemic and passage of a giant COVID-19 relief package.

In opening remarks, he declared “hope is on the way,” and he doubled his original goal on COVID-19 vaccines by pledging the nation will administer 200 million doses by the end of his first 100 days in office. The administration had met Biden’s initial goal of 100 million doses earlier this month — before even his 60th day in office — as the president pushes to defeat a pandemic that has killed more than 545,000 Americans.

While seemingly ambitious, Biden’s vaccine goal amounts to a continuation of the existing pace of vaccinations through the end of next month.

EVAN VUCCI/ASSOCIATED PRESS President Joe Biden addresses his first news conference Thursday in the White House in Washington. In opening remarks, he doubled his original goal on COVID-19 vaccines.