Sen. Marshall Op-ed: Biden administration must take action to target out-of-control inflation that is hurting Kansans

(Washington, D.C., February 17, 2022) – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. penned an op-ed for the Topeka Capital Journal outlining policies coming out of the Biden Administration that are leading to record inflation and what needs to be done to tame it. In the op-ed, Senator Marshall said in part,

“The American people are dealing with the highest inflation in over 40 years — they have less money to spend and the things they are able to buy cost more. Unfortunately, the inflation we are seeing is here to stay so long as Joe Biden and the Democrats continue to pursue their reckless taxing, reckless borrowing and reckless spending agenda… We need smart, targeted investments, not radical spending that leaves the country at a disadvantage and drives up inflation, especially now that our national debt recently surpassed $30 trillion. To put an end to this crisis, we must put an end to Democrats’ out-of-control spending, scrap the unconstitutional vaccine mandates and address the supply chain crisis with urgency.”

You may click HERE or scroll below to read Senator Marshall’s op-ed in its entirety.

Biden administration must take action to target out-of-control inflation that is hurting Kansans

By: U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D.
February 16, 2022
Topeka Capital Journal

The American people are dealing with the highest inflation in over 40 years — they have less money to spend and the things they are able to buy cost more. Unfortunately, the inflation we are seeing is here to stay so long as Joe Biden and the Democrats continue to pursue their reckless taxing, reckless borrowing and reckless spending agenda.

With last week’s Consumer Price Index surging 7.5% from a year ago, it’s clear the Biden administration has done nothing to address this crisis they created.

Joe Biden and the Democrats inherited a vaccine and a re-emerging economy ready to take off like a rocket ship — all they had to do was sit back and keep the government out of the way.

Instead, they are spending your taxpayer dollars like drunken sailors and implementing energy policies that have caused the price of your home heating bill to soar. Democrats also created a dire labor shortage by imposing unconstitutional COVID vaccine mandates and increased federal benefits that paid people more to stay home than work.

Out-of-control spending, poor management of our energy sector and the labor shortage aren’t the only issues contributing to historic inflation rates: Joe Biden’s supply chain crisis rages on and will have serious implications for years to come. America’s farmers struggle to get their hands on crop inputs needed to feed, fuel and clothe the world. Their tractors remain idle waiting for a basic part necessary to plant spring crops.

We are two years into this pandemic and it’s not uncommon to see empty car lots and cleared-out grocery aisles. Mom-and-pop shops across the nation simply do not have the resources available to sidestep shipping delays and push through price increases — forcing them to close their doors for good.

Over the past few months, I’ve heard loud and clear from Kansans about the negative impact rising costs have on their everyday life. In fact, it’s been the No. 1 issue discussed during my nearly 100 town hall meetings across the state. President Biden even admitted Americans are being clobbered by inflation, but he demonstrated a clear disconnect with the average grocery shopper in the U.S.

The reality is, inflation is hitting our country from field to fork. Fertilizer prices have surged by 50%, driving up production costs for farmers and in turn, the price tag in your local grocery store.

Certainly, anyone who hosted a watch party for last weekend’s Super Bowl was in for a rude awakening when it came to buying food for game day. The price of avocadoes needed for your famous guacamole recipe doubled since last year and the cost of chicken wings is 48% higher.

Americans’ struggles don’t stop there: Gas prices continue to top the charts. Kansans are paying on average $3.17 a gallon at the pump — $0.94 more than a year ago, and nationally, Americans are paying about $3.45 — nearly $1 more than a year ago.

These excessive costs are hurting every hardworking Kansan, but none more than our seniors and families living paycheck to paycheck. Inflation is a social injustice that targets the most vulnerable and it must be stopped.

To restore our nation’s economic prosperity, President Biden and Democrats must first wake up and understand the consequences of their actions. These unsustainable spending policies put forth by this administration are irresponsible and do nothing but crush economic recovery.

We need smart, targeted investments, not radical spending that leaves the country at a disadvantage and drives up inflation, especially now that our national debt recently surpassed $30 trillion.

To put an end to this crisis, we must put an end to Democrats’ out-of-control spending, scrap the unconstitutional vaccine mandates and address the supply chain crisis with urgency.

Make no mistake, this inflation and all of its lingering effects rest squarely on the shoulders of President Biden’s failed socialist policies, and its past time for the administration to stop adding fuel to the fire.

Roger Marshall is a U.S. senator from Kansas.

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