Meanwhile, in the metro Atlanta area, which is represented by vulnerable Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, spending rose 11.5 percent over the same 12-month period.
The latest inflation data, especially in key swing states that could determine control of the Senate, brought into focus the deepening political problems for President Joe Biden and his party and explained why vulnerable Democrats have publicly sounded the alarm on the issue. Democrats, desperate to keep control of Congress, are now asking their administration and party leadership to help them fight harder against rising prices — and hang on to their seats in the process.
Kelly told CNN that the Biden administration should “look for more opportunities to do things to reduce spending.”
“Nine percent is a pretty big number,” Kelly added. “Families are struggling to afford many things and have to make some challenging decisions.”
Kelly noted that he has already called on Biden to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The administration announced on March 31 that it would release one million barrels of crude oil per day for six months.
“I probably don’t want to end it,” Kelly told CNN. “The price of gas has come down, but it’s still incredibly expensive, historically, and unaffordable for many families.”
And Warnock told CNN that Congress should end the federal gas tax and cap insulin prices. The first idea was rejected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi because it was unclear whether consumers would reap the rewards, but the second could soon see action in the Senate. Warnock also called for investment in US semiconductor and microchip manufacturing. Warnock said some people now have to choose between buying groceries and buying prescription drugs.
“We can do something about it – and we must,” added Warnock.
Inflation has become a major political issue for Americans, worrying nervous Democrats who know there is no quick fix in Washington to create more supply and less demand for products. Vulnerable Democrats say inflation has dominated conversations both at home and in Washington, where the party is grappling internally over potential solutions with just over 110 days until the November election.
“This is a grocery and gas election,” Congressman Tom Emmer of Minnesota, head of the National Republican Congressional Committee, told CNN. “(The Biden administration) had this nonsense that said inflation was going to be temporary and then it was Putin’s fault and now it’s the Republicans’ fault. They just need to look in the mirror. And you know what, come November, that’s why they’re going to lose.”
For months, Democrats have trotted out a number of reasons why spending has risen. They blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine and causing spikes in food and energy prices, the pandemic for disrupting supply chains and oil companies for allegedly taking advantage of consumers, despite protests from some prominent economists.
On Wednesday, the Biden administration issued a new defense: the latest inflation record was “irrelevant” because gas prices have declined over the past few weeks.
But that response wasn’t enough for Democrats on Capitol Hill, as Republicans continued to beat them on the issue.
Florida Sen. Rick Scott, chairman of the National Republican Senate Committee, said that even if inflation were seven or eight percent, it would be “ridiculously high.”
“We’re going to win so many races over inflation,” Scott told CNN. “It’s terrible for the country. For elections it will help us, but think of those poor families who are hurting themselves.”
Some Democrats are starting to point fingers at each other. New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan, a vulnerable Democrat, criticized the Biden administration’s handling of inflation, telling CNN: “I’ve said for some time that I think he and the administration have been too slow to respond to this.”
The White House, which initially failed to acknowledge the looming inflation crisis, sent officials to Capitol Hill last month in an effort to arm Democrats with topics to discuss rising gas prices, inflation and other economic issues. But Democrats who attended the briefing said they left less than satisfied, with one lawmaker saying the meeting got “spicy” when it came to the question-and-answer portion.
“I just don’t believe we can try to smooth things over by talking as if people don’t know their own lives, their own accounts and their own minds… People aren’t stupid. There’s no point in trying to hide the ball,” Congresswoman Elisa Slotkin of Michigan, one of the most threatened Democrats in the House this fall, told CNN. “What I need is a plan. I’m not looking for messaging help.’
Slotkin urged his party leadership to hold weekly votes on bills to reduce sky-high consumer goods and gas prices. But some of the most realistic options — an economic package that would lower prescription drug prices and a China competition bill that includes funding for semiconductor makers — are in limbo. A Monmouth poll from earlier this summer asked Americans to name their family’s biggest concerns. The most common answer was inflation (33%), followed by a range of related economic issues, including gas prices (15%), the economy (9%) and everyday bills like groceries (6%).
Since the start of 2021, campaigns and groups have spent $92 million on inflation-related ads — more than other top-level issues such as immigration or guns, according to data from AdImpact. Republicans blamed Democrats for the economic mess and spent $54 million on the issue — more than twice what Democrats spent defending against it.
“This is hurting families in Wisconsin — and I keep making the point that this didn’t just happen,” Wisconsin GOP Sen. Ron Johnson, a top Democratic target this fall, told CNN. “It wasn’t just bad luck. This is caused by huge deficit spending. It was caused by their war on fossil fuels, which purposefully raised the price of energy, gasoline, to record highs.”
Asked if he was concerned that price increases could hurt Democrats’ ability to hold a 50-50 Senate, Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, acknowledged that inflation was a “major” issue, noting some bills in Congress he hopes will pass to lower prescription drug prices and he has targeted the Republican effort to eliminate the right to abortion.
“We understand that obviously rising prices are a problem for families, and we are working hard to help families deal with these rising costs,” Peters said. “And you just contrast that with Republicans who are completely silent on how to actually fix anything and are actually engaged in extremist politics and want to take away women’s rights and don’t talk about issues that concern Americans.” “
Similarly, Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, who chairs the House Democratic campaign, acknowledged that inflation “is a problem” and encouraged his members to recognize the suffering of Americans, while highlighting the party’s plan to provide relief to the users.
“We are working on the problem. The other side is trying to gain from him politically,” Maloney, who is himself facing a competitive re-election race, told reporters. “What’s the Republican plan on inflation other than making people angry to win elections?” They don’t have the foggiest idea what they’re going to do to fix the economy.”
Republicans have argued that they have no plan to fight inflation.
“Stop deficit spending,” Johnson said. “Let’s use the God-given natural resource we have to lower the cost of energy. Let’s at least have work requirements for welfare payments.’
“Balance the budget. Start cutting taxes. Reduce the regulatory environment. And become energy independent,” Scott said. “That’s what you have to do — and do everything you can to buy American products.”
CNN’s Manu Raju, Ariel Edwards-Levy and David Wright contributed to this report.
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