'Squad' Congresswoman Tlaib to give progressive Working Families Party response to State of Union

Minnesota Democrat Rep. Rashida Tlaib has been selected to deliver the Working Families Party's response to next week's State of the Union address by President Biden.

A member of Congress' so-called progressive-minded "Squad," Tlaib is expected to take aim at Republicans and fellow congressional Democrats, by name, for stalling some of Biden's social spending agenda items and climate change packages.

Biden is considered a moderate and has also been targeted by the progressive wing of his party. 

According to reporting by Politico, Tlaib will also ask that the president use his executive authority to cancel student loan debt and alter the way in which the government calculates the poverty level in order to expand benefits to more Americans. 

"It's an honor," said said about being asked to give the response. "I am especially excited to elevate the voices of the working-class residents in my district and across the nation. It should not be this hard to deliver on healthcare, climate, housing, child care, safety, voting rights, clean water and so much more.

"Democrats are in the majority and must set a new course that moves with a sense of urgency. Our communities deserve for us to act now."

The WFP has issued an official response to a president's joint address to Congress for several years, and Tlaib follows Democratic Reps. Jamaal Bowman, of New York, who gave the speech in 2021, and Ayanna Pressley, of Massachusetts, who gave the speech in 2020. 

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has been selected to deliver the GOP response to the speech, which she will do from Des Moines.