Biden calls out Scott on Social Security and Medicare at Tampa speech

Eric Daugherty contributed to this report.

TAMPA, Fla. (FLV) – During a speech at the University of Tampa on Thursday, President Joe Biden called out Sen. Rick Scott, R-FL, for a platform the president said would sunset legislation like Medicare and Social Security.

Scott has said he would not support sunsetting Medicare or Social Security.

“Maybe he changed his mind, maybe he’s seen the Lord,” Biden said of Scott.

Biden had a message for anyone who wants to cut either of the social programs: “If that’s your dream, I’m your nightmare.”

The president said Medicare expansion should occur in Florida, and claimed it has not because of “politics.”

“It’s not like you’re the poorest state of the union,” Biden said.

Biden noted efforts to lower the costs of prescription drugs, making insulin cheaper, and fighting pharmaceutical companies. He vowed to veto legislation that would raise the cost of prescription drugs.

He also defended federal programs like the Affordable Care Act, warning Republicans against trying to repeal it.

During the State of the Union speech on Tuesday, Biden claimed Republicans wanted to “cut Social Security and Medicare.”

He did not name specific Republicans during the speech to Congress, but on Wednesday he called out Scott and DeSantis-endorsed U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-UT, during a speech in Wisconsin.

“I remind you, Rick Scott from Florida, the guy who ran a U.S. Senate campaign, has a plan. I’ve got his brochure right here. It has a plan. Here’s what he says in his plan. Let me open it up here. He says all federal legislation sunsets every five years. If a law is worth keeping, Congress can pass it again. Social Security and Medicare, Medicaid,” Biden said Wednesday.

According to his website, Scott released his “Rescue America” plan last year, outlining points that should be taken to “save this country.”

The point Biden is referring to number six, “Government Reform and Debt” which lists the following as a point: “All federal legislation sunsets in 5 years. If a law is worth keeping, Congress can pass it again.”

“I’ve never cut Social Security or Medicare or called for it and they know it. They are twisting words and being dishonest – as they do every time they speak,” Scott responded on Twitter.

Scott posted a photo of a bill that Biden introduced in 1975 – when he was a senator from Delaware.

Biden said, “it requires every program to be looked at freshly at least once every four years. The examination is not just of the increased cost of the program, but of the worthiness of the entire program.”

Scott also released a TV advertisement in Florida going after Biden’s policies.

“Joe Biden just cut $280 billion from Medicare, and we know about his 80,000 new IRS agents. But what you don’t know, is that Joe Biden also cheated on his taxes, and got away with it. Biden improperly used a loophole to dodge half a million dollars in taxes that should have gone to Medicare,” the ad said.

“Now that Biden has ripped off Medicare for half a million dollars, he wants to close the loophole and raise your taxes, I’m Rick Scott. Biden should resign,” Scott said.

Biden is reportedly heading to at least 20 states with Vice President Kamala Harris to promote his policies from the State of the Union speech.