On 8/7/2022, upon voting against the Senate’s tax and spending bill – the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said, “Senator Manchin and Senator Schumer’s massive tax-and-spending bill has unfortunately, in my judgment, now passed. Because of inflation, Louisianians are really getting good at barely getting by—and that’s true for most Americans, too. As a result of Senator Manchin’s bill—and I hope I am wrong on this—I predict that Joeflation, as some people call it, will now refer to Joe Manchin, not President Biden.
“For example, Senator Manchin’s bill raises taxes on oil and gas. Now, when you tax something, you get less of it which causes prices to rise. Senator Manchin’s message seems to be: “Since you can’t afford gas, because of my bill, go buy a seventy-five-thousand-dollar electric vehicle. That’s not going to work in Louisiana. That’s not going to work across America. Number two. According to the non-partisan Joint Tax Committee, which doesn’t take sides—it’s not Republican or Democrat—the burden of Senator Manchin’s bill will fall on everyone, everyone and their taxes. Not just people making more than four-hundred thousand dollars a year; everyone. So, most Americans—if not all Americans—are going to have even less money to spend as prices continue to rise.”
“Point three. Senator Manchin’s bill raises taxes on businesses, especially manufacturers. Most people understand this: Corporations don’t pay taxes, people do. And, those taxes, when they’re increased, are passed on in higher prices, lower wages, lower stock prices and lower 401k balances. It’s a special kind of stupid, in my judgement, to raise taxes during both a recession and inflation—that’s called stagflation, which is what we have right now as a result of President Biden’s policies. Look, I’m not saying that Senator Manchin intentionally wants to hurt people. I’m not saying that he intentionally wants to have even more people living in a tent behind Whataburger, but that’s going to be the result of this bill. I hope I’m wrong, but I think I’m right. This bill is tier 1 moronic.”
Prior to Democrats passing the “Inflation Reduction” Act, Sen. Kennedy proposed introducing an amendment to the massive spending bill that would have the Biden administration develop a gas and oil plan in the Gulf of Mexico based on the letter that Manchin and Kelly wrote on March 31. Speaking on the U.S. Senate floor, Kennedy said his “amendment would fulfill that request and make it a congressional directive.” “On day one, President Biden launched a full-blown war on America’s oil and gas jobs, and we see the results: Louisianans’ cost of living has skyrocketed and the price of almost every product in this country has gone up—thanks to his attacks. My amendment is the first step to restoring the thousands of energy jobs killed by this administration, and returning Louisiana and America to the days when families did not have to choose between putting food on their tables or gas in their cars,” said Kennedy.
This amendment requires the Department of the Interior to approve two leases a year for five years. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) urged a “No” vote on the amendment, arguing that it would “jeopardize the whole package. All my amendment does would be to take Sen. Manchin’s letter and Sen. Kelly’s letter, well-written, well-reasoned, and make it a Congressional directive. That’s all it does,” Kennedy concluded. When the amendment came up for a vote, Mark Kelly issued a “No.”
Also as a part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Kennedy also introduces an amendment to reduce the cost of insulin for Americans. “Louisianans and all Americans who suffer from diabetes know that the rising cost of insulin can be a matter of life or death. My amendment cuts prices by redirecting misused Obamacare funds to community health centers to help them pay for the lifesaving drug for middle and low-income individuals,” said Kennedy.
The Democrat-controlled Senate passed the massive spending package on Sunday, which reportedly aims to reduce the deficit and curb inflation while “extending enhanced Obamacare subsidies, spending more than $300 billion on climate change programs, and allowing Medicare to negotiate the price of drugs,” according to Breitbart News. The bill passed along party lines after moderate Manchin struck a deal with Biden after months of resistance. Vice President Kamala Harris provided the tie-breaking vote.
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Kennedy: This bill is tier 1 moronic, Joeflation will now refer to Joe Manchin not Joe Biden. Mark Kelly against amendment.