INFLATION
Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 152
(Senate - September 21, 2022) PDF
Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, over the past week, Americans were
hit once again with a grave inflation report. Worse, the American
people got more evidence of just how out of touch the White House and
congressional Democrats are with the damage inflation is doing to
families across the country.
We were all hoping President Biden's crushing inflation might show
signs of easing and give folks a chance to catch their breath after
months and months of watching their paychecks shrink. That is not what
happened at all. Inflation is up 8.3 percent from a year ago--a
disastrous number.
We are feeling the inflation in every aspect of our lives, from
paying utility bills to gassing up cars, to rent and insurance, and,
especially, to the basics like food. Grocery prices are up 13.5 percent
from this time last year, which is a crushing blow to most Americans
who visit their local store once a week, like I do. Milk is up 17
percent. Bread and chicken are up 16 percent. Eggs are up an outrageous
40 percent. And the list goes on and on.
I do my own shopping for my family, and I see this weekly, and it is
incredible. This is a reality, but President Biden appears to be living
in a very, very different reality. When the latest bad inflation
numbers were released last week, the President and Washington Democrats
threw a party on the White House lawn. That is right, a party--a lawn
party. The President and Democrats celebrated as the rest of us watched
the Dow plummet and received an inflation report confirming that this
is the worst year for food and electricity inflation since the fallout
from President Jimmy Carter.
What exactly did they celebrate? Their latest reckless, Big
Government spending bill.
I don't have to remind you that, just over a year ago, the Democrats
rammed through their $2 trillion spending spree despite economists
warning that it would be a catalyst for rampant inflation. Economists
warned us then, and they are warning us now, about the misnamed
Inflation Reduction Act; namely, that it won't do anything to ease
inflation, but it will certainly add to the deficit.
Apparently, hosting a big party is preferable than heeding these
nonpartisan warnings and getting to work to get our Nation back on the
right track.
When the "Inflation Act" was on the floor, Republicans tried
countless times to adopt solutions to tackle inflation, crime, and
secure our border. But our efforts were consistently shut down because
not one Senate Democrat could spare a penny from the Green New Deal.
No, they have their own priorities, and they are awfully out of touch
with the priorities of American families.
On Sunday, we were given more evidence that the President is living
in a completely different world than the rest of us. The President
appeared on "60 Minutes," where he discussed several challenges
currently facing our Nation, only, according to him, our Nation is
doing swell. And indeed, the President seemed to paint a rosy picture
of little to no inflation and suggested we should be relieved by the
new inflation numbers.
When asked what he could do better and faster to help Americans get
some relief at the grocery store checkout line, he claimed inflation
was up "hardly at all."
"Hardly at all?" Say that to parents paying 40 percent more for a
dozen of eggs just to feed their children breakfast. Say that to
workers who are watching their savings dwindle month after month
because their paychecks can't keep up with these prices. Say that to
the Americans who are just barely getting by in this economy.
President Biden, you may not have to visit the grocery store or pay
an electricity bill, but my constituents do.
Time and time again, the President and his allies in Congress have
proven he is out of touch with American priorities and in denial about
the real suffering and fears of the American people. They are right to
question whether they can still afford the leadership they are getting
out of the White House and the Democrat-led Congress.
It is high time for the President and Democrats to align their
priorities with those of the people, allow real solutions to be
considered on the Senate floor, and get out our economy back on its
feet.
I yield the floor.