Biden vows to crack down on surprise fees from hotels and airlines that charge families $50 to sit together

President Joe Biden used his State of the Union address Tuesday night to highlight his war on junk fees, the hidden fees used by businesses to squeeze more money from consumers.

It has been one of his most populist impulses, putting him on the same side as families struggling to make ends meet.

“I know how unfair it feels when a company overcharges you and gets away with it,” he said. ‘Not anymore.

“We have drafted a bill to stop all of that. It is called the “Garbage Fee Prevention Act”.

We will ban surprise “resort fees” that hotels add to your bill. These rates can cost you up to $90 a night at hotels that aren’t even resorts.

The line, essentially a dad joke, was laughed off on camera.

‘The idea that cable internet and cell phone companies can charge you 200 or more if you decide to switch to another provider… give me a break.

‘We can stop service fees on tickets for concerts and sporting events and have companies disclose all fees up front.

‘I will ban airlines from charging a family $50 roundtrip just to sit together.

Baggage fees are bad enough. Airlines cannot treat your child as a piece of luggage.

Americans are tired of being taken for fools.

Biden was addressing a joint session of Congress for the third time as president, in what many hope will provide a springboard to his 2024 bid.

It was the first time he had done so with a Republican speaker sitting behind his shoulder, and he called on the Republican Party to work with him to “finish the job” of rebuilding the economy.

He listed his accomplishments, as well as unfinished tasks, as he sought to portray a country radically different from the pandemic-hit America that took hold two years ago.

‘The history of the United States is a story of progress and resilience. To always move forward. Of never giving up. A story that is unique among all nations,’ she said.

‘We are the only country that has emerged from each crisis stronger than when we entered. That’s what we’re doing again.

But the partisan divisions were in plain sight.

Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, rose to their feet as Biden reached their applause lines.

Republicans sometimes interrupted him and called him a ‘liar’ when he said they planned to abolish Social Security and Medicare.

He was later accused of using his position to give a campaign speech.

Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Ronna McDaniel said: ‘Biden doubled down on his disastrous and polarizing agenda that has left working families behind.

“Instead of taking responsibility for the multiple crises he and the Democrats created, Biden blamed everyone but himself for historic inflation, skyrocketing crime, and a porous southern border. Biden proved once again that he is the divider in chief.