On 4/18/2023, Kennedy questions Biden top advisor Bernstein.
Kennedy: So let me ask Dr. Bernstein a question, doc. Why did you think inflation was temporary?

Bernstein: The word, of course, transitory is what you’re referring to, and I, I, I not only believe, but I’ve said, and this is well…

Kennedy: Temporary and transitory, those are synonymous.

Bernstein: Right, yeah, those are, they’re synonyms. And okay, so tell me why, but I think transitory was simply why you thought inflation, I’m going to be accurate, why, why in, in your infinite wisdom, you thought inflation was, was, uh, transitory or temporary.

Kennedy: Well, let me be clear about what we meant at the time. And by the way, um, and this is contrary to what Ranking Member Scott said earlier. Um, I did not ever say that people didn’t understand transitory. What I said was we didn’t understand transitory. In fact, well, that’s clear. We can stipulate to that. That word means that word is temporarily ambiguous. It meant different things to some people. Meant two weeks to some people meant two years. What we meant, and let me answer your question, we thought inflation was going to accelerate and gradually cool down over time. Now, that has turned out to be, uh, in fact, the pattern that inflation has taken, but transitory was much too ambiguous. The description of that dynamic, acceleration, cooling, explosions…

Kennedy: Are you telling me that when you said inflation was transitory, you were correct?

Bernstein: Uh, no, I, I’m not saying I was correct or incorrect. What I’m saying was that was an example, and you were correct. No, I’m saying that that was an ambiguous, an unclear word that was, uh, poorly chosen, I think, for, uh, that discussion because it meant different things to different people. To me,

Kennedy: well, has it been transitory?

Inflation has, in fact, behaved much as I just described. We thought inflation was going to accelerate and gradually over time, and that

Kennedy: Chair is going to cut me off. Has it been transitory?

Bernstein: Inflation has accelerated and cooled.

Chairman: Senator’s time has expired. I want to fulfill what she said, that I was going to cut you off, yeah

On 4/18/2023, Kennedy questions Mr. Uejio who has been nominated for assistant Secretary of fair housing and equal opportunity at HUD

Kennedy: You’ve been nominated for assistant Secretary of fair housing and equal opportunity at HUD, is that correct?

Uejio: Uh, yes Senator, that is correct.

Kennedy: … Okay, are there different protected classes in the two statutes?

Uejio: Thank you, Senator. I don’t have a ton of experience with Title VII.

Kennedy: … was Bostock an employment case or in a housing case?

Kennedy: Uh, Senator, thanks for the question. You know, I, I actually don’t know the answer to that, Senator.

Kennedy: Well, it’s kind of fundamental. I mean, what was the holding of Bostock?

Uejio: My sense was that Bostock, as it’s been interpreted by HUD, made me

Kennedy: not asking how interpreted it. I mean, you’ve read the opinion. What does it say?

Uejio: My sense, Senator, I get what you’re getting at with this questioning.

Kennedy: What am I getting?

Uejio: My sense is that this was a case- Well, I’m not a lawyer, Senator, and I have not had a good deal of experience with labor law. The position I’ve been nominated for deals-

Kennedy: Let me tell you what I’m getting at. Okay, Bostock dealt with employment discrimination. Okay? It’s holding doesn’t have to do with housing. Do you propose that the holding of Bostock be extended to housing?

Uejio: Senator, my understanding is that HUD issued an interpretive rule.

Kennedy: Not asking about HUD. I know what the Hud’s done. I’m asking about you. Bostock. You say you’ve read it, and I believe you. If you have, you know it’s an employment discrimination case, right?

Uejio: Yes, Senator.

Kennedy: Okay. Do you think that the holding of Bostock can fairly be extended to the field of housing?

Uejio: Senator, my view is that the rule for which I’ve been nominated is to faithfully enforce the laws as Congress has written them. What the law is-

Kennedy: I’m asking you what Bostock held, and do you think that Bostock can be extended to housing?

Uejio: Senator, and I apologize if I’m missing the mark on your question. My sense is that Bostock held …

Kennedy: Here’s what I’m getting at. Bostock was an important discrimination case. All you got to do is read it, it is as big as Dallas, okay? And HUD has said we’re going to apply Bostock to housing, not employment discrimination to housing, and you’re going to have to go along with that, otherwise, you’re not going to last very long on your job. So, how, legally, can that be done?

Uejio: Senator I you know I I don’t presently work at HUD

https://www.facebook.com/HygoNewsUSA/videos/1649396215525635
Kennedy: Are you telling me inflation transitory, you were correct? employment law not housing law