Turn on the television in a swing state in America and you’ll see Democratic candidates bragging about their efforts to bring down rising costs. Unfortunately for their constituents, that’s not translating to anything tangible other than empty promises and finger pointing, otherwise known as election year posturing.
This morning, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported another backbreaking month of high inflation, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) hitting 9.1% in June. Economists across the ideological spectrum agree Democrats’ reckless spending made this problem worse. Now, voters are looking to hold someone accountable for this mess – and Democrats are furiously backpedaling to avoid blame.
Here’s what Democrats have been telling their constituents about their (apparently meaningless) efforts to combat rising costs:
Mark Kelly
- “So, I’m pushing for solutions today, even if it means taking on my own party. Like bringing down gas prices…” (Twitter, 6/22/22)
- “I’ll do whatever it takes to lower costs now…” (Twitter, 6/22/22)
- “Excited to launch our first Spanish-language TV ad of 2022, highlighting my work to lower costs on everything from gas to groceries. Growing up, I watched my mom have to decide which bills to pay. I know how hard it can be. That’s why I won’t stop working until the job’s done.” (Twitter, 7/7/22)
- “I know Arizona families are working hard to get by right now and that’s why I won’t give up on getting our economy back on track and lowering everyday costs.” (“Paycheck to Paycheck,” Mark Kelly for Senate, 2/23/22)
Raphael Warnock
- “I’m cracking down on the corporations who are raising prices out of control.” (February 2022 ad)
- “I’m pushing to hold [shipping companies] accountable. It’s time we investigate their greed and crack down on the price gouging to help lower costs for families and small businesses.” (April 2022 ad)
- “Reverend Raphael Warnock introduced the Gas Prices Relief Act… This new legislation would lower high gas prices by suspending the gas tax.” (March 2022 ad)
Catherine Cortez Masto
- In a March 2022 hearing, Cortez Masto said, “it is false to lay blame on the Biden administration’s energy policies as the cause of the high gas prices that are currently facing Americans right now…” (Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, 3/10/22, Video Begins at 1:21:45)
- In February 2022, Cortez Masto said there were “anti-inflationary measures” in Build Back Better. (Manu Raju and Ted Barrett, “Vulnerable Democrats feel inflation squeeze and call for more White House action,” CNN, 2/10/22)
- In June 2022, Reuters noted how “The campaign website of Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto does not mention the word “inflation.” (Tim Reid, “Don’t mention inflation! A Nevada Democrat’s gamble in a tough election year,” Reuters, 6/2/22)
Maggie Hassan
- “And while all of us are paying the price, one senator is fighting to lower your cost.” (Maggie Hassan for NH, Campaign Ad: “Relief”, 6/27/22, Video Begins at 0:03)
- When asked why independent voters should believe that it’s not time for a change in Washington, Hassan claimed Republicans are “blocking progress and standing with the very corporate special interests who are driving prices up.” (Maggie Hassan, Interview with New Hampshire Today, 6/10/22, Video Begins at 10:29)
- In May 2022, Hassan said the Biden administration “needed to do more earlier” to combat inflation. b(Maggie Hassan, Interview on MSNBC, 5/11/22, Video Begins at 4:03)
Michael Bennet
- “We need to do everything we can to lower costs for Coloradans.” (Twitter, 6/22/22)
Patty Murray
- “Things are hard right now, but it’s all of you who are getting our country back on track…” (Twitter, 6/2/22)
- “Raise your hand if you support Democrats’ plans to lower everyday costs for working families” (Twitter, 5/10/22)
Val Demings
- In June 2022, Demings tweeted, “We’ve taken action to bring down costs and inflation…” (Rep. Val Demings, Twitter, 6/16/22)
- On March 28, 2022, Demings tweeted, “Oil prices are coming back down as we work to expand supply, but gas prices and oil & gas profits are staying high.” (Rep. Val Demings, Twitter, 3/28/22)
Tim Ryan
- When asked if he believes Biden needs to do more on inflation, Ryan said, “I think there is some corporate responsibility here, corporations are making a lot of money and need to make sure the consumers are not getting gouged.” (Tim Ryan, Interview on Fox News’s America Reports, 5/12/22, Video Begins at 2:03)
- Ryan blamed the prolonged high prices on the war in Ukraine and said, “we thought we’d probably be winding this thing down, uh, and then the war came…” (Tim Ryan, Interview With The Cleveland Plain Dealer, 4/8/22, Audio Begins at 1:33)
“It is very apparent all Democrats have to offer their suffering constituents on rising costs is lip service. As inflation continues breaking records and the cost of gas and groceries continues to rise, empty promises are simply not enough. The only way to stop runaway inflation is to defeat these Democrats who caused the problem in the first place with their reckless spending.” -SLF Communications Director Jack Pandol