Biden feud with Rick Scott escalates as president doubles down on Social Security, Medicare claims

President Joe Biden on Thursday reiterated his claims that Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott wants to force Congress to revote on Social Security and Medicare every five years, prompting Scott to challenge him to debate the issue.

Biden appeared in the Sunshine State and said "[t]he very idea the senator from Florida wants to put Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block every five years, I find to be somewhat outrageous. So outrageous that you might not even believe it," according to The Hill.

The president made a similar claim during the State of the Union address earlier this week, asserting that Republicans hoped to "sunset" both programs, which prompted boos from members of that party.

Scott, for his part, has proposed a measure that would require lawmakers to reapprove federal legislation at five-year intervals, a proposal strikingly similar to a measure Biden proposed in 1975 while a senator from Delaware. The Florida Republican has asserted that Biden mischaracterized his proposal, calling his address comments "a dishonest move... from a very confused president."

"This is clearly and obviously an idea aimed at dealing with all the crazy new laws our Congress has been passing of late. In my plan, I suggested the following: All federal legislation sunsets in five years. If a law is worth keeping, Congress can pass it again," Scott said.

Following Biden's Thursday remarks, Scott again raged against the president for misrepresenting his position and challenged him to debate the issue.

"Welcome to Florida, [Joe Biden]," he tweeted. "Since you can't stop talking about me and lying to Floridians about Social Security and Medicare, I'm sure you'll accept my invitation to debate the issue. I'll be back in Florida tonight. You pick the time and place."

Biden does not appear to have publicly responded to the challenge as of press time.

The spat between the pair comes amid an ongoing negotiation between Biden and Republicans over raising the debt ceiling. The nation hit its $31.38 trillion debt limit earlier this year, prompting Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to announce "extraordinary measures" to keep the government afloat.

Democrats have advocated for a clean increase to the debt ceiling while Republicans seek to match any such increase with spending cuts to address the national debt.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.