Congressional Record, Senate, September 15, 2022, Page S4628
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated September 15, 2022, at page S4628, carrying a Senator's floor remarks on inflation. The Senator describes the rising cost of back-to-school shopping and quotes mothers in Pennsylvania and in his hometown of Louisville who describe struggling with grocery bills. He criticizes Democrats for passing a party-line bill that he says does nothing to help working families. The page also carries his remarks on bipartisan talks involving Senators Baldwin, Sinema and Collins and a call for 10 Republicans, and the start of a section on judicial nominations. The remarks are the Senator's own.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, September 15, 2022, Page S4628.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-09-15-crec-2022-09-15-pt1-pgs4628-4-f708366049/
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S4628 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 15, 2022
do. We should do it now. That is why story to the American people every sin- facing working families with young
we are so eager to get 10 Republicans gle day. The media have grown some- kids is the rising cost of back-to-school
to support the bill. what numb to month after month of 8 shopping lists.
And across the street from here, we and 9 percent inflation, but working According to one working mother in
have all heard Justice Clarence Thom- Americans have not had the luxury of Pennsylvania, she had to take items
as and his fellow MAGA Republican growing numb. The pain gets worse like a backpack for her preschooler out
Justices are surely waiting for the every single time they have to fill a of her shopping cart in the checkout
chance to one day follow through on shopping cart or pay their credit card line:
his threat—Justice Thomas’s threat to bill. It’s been at least 20 years since I have had
drag same-sex marriage rights back One mother of young sons in my to pull back to this extent. This is a new and
under the spotlight of the Supreme hometown of Louisville put it this way: humbling experience for me as an adult.
Court. That thought should send a My grocery bill has [gone] up a lot. It’s ter- American families are facing math
shiver down all of our spines. rible right now. I have to be really strategic problems that just don’t add up.
So I want to thank my colleagues, on how I plan out the whole month to make Meanwhile, the same Washington
from Senators BALDWIN to SINEMA to sure we have enough money. Democrats who got them into this
COLLINS and others, for continuing Of course, Kentuckians aren’t the mess spent Tuesday celebrating having
their talks. I am glad to give them the only ones in this predicament. In Ne- rammed through, on a party-line vote,
space to lead these negotiations be- vada, an office worker recently told re- a bill that does nothing to help them
cause this needs to be done and done porters: solve it: hundreds of billions of dollars
right. But for the sake of tens of mil- I’ve not been buying a lot of things because in new spending, just as working fami-
lions of Americans, we need to get this I can’t afford it. I’m like, ‘‘The kids don’t lies are having the hardest time in dec-
done, and I hope we have 10 Repub- need juice for school anymore. We’ll just do ades making ends meet at home; hun-
licans who are willing to raise their water.’’ dreds of billions of taxpayer dollars
hands and push this process forward. In Arizona, so many families are hav- that wouldn’t even accomplish Demo-
ing to make tough choices at the gro- crats’ own underlying radical climate
JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS
cery store, many are accepting charity goals, let alone the false claims of ‘‘in-
Madam President, finally on judges, flation reduction’’ on the cover.
to keep food on the table.
it was another productive week here on So our economy continues to hand
According to an employee of one food
the Senate floor when it comes to con- working families a raw deal. But the
bank in Phoenix:
firming more judicial nominees. On same day this latest awful inflation re-
The impact we are seeing day in and day
Monday, we completed the confirma- out continues to go up. The families are port was published, Washington Demo-
tion process for Salvador Mendoza to stressed. crats went to a concert at the White
sit on the Ninth Circuit. Then we con- House and celebrated—celebrated—
And who can blame them? Food infla-
firmed Lara Montecalvo to sit on the their economic policies.
tion in America is at more than a four-
First Circuit. And later this morning, How much more out of touch can you
decade high. Bread is 16.2 percent more
we will vote to confirm Sarah Merriam get?
expensive than it was a year ago. Milk
to be on the Second Circuit. The Democrats’ giant inflationary
is up 17 percent. Flour is up 23.3 per-
We also will return to the nomina- spiral is costing the average American
cent, and eggs are going for nearly 40
tion of Arianna Freeman to the Third household 460 extra dollars every single
percent more.
Circuit as soon as possible. month just to buy the same things
Week after week, feeding a family
That brings our total for the month they bought last year. President Biden
has become a stressful proposition for
of September to five circuit court and his government have imposed a si-
millions of Americans, and every extra
judges, and we now have confirmed lent Democratic inflation tax of $460
dollar spent on groceries is one fewer
more than 80 judicial nominees to the every single month.
to spare for soaring electricity bills.
Federal bench. On numerous occasions, In the suburbs of Las Vegas, resi- In Kentucky, the average household
it has been with bipartisan votes, and I dents have commiserated over the as- has to pay $608 more a month—well
want to thank my Republican col- tronomical cost of keeping their homes over $7,000 more a year—just to stay
league who joined us in voting for cool in the summer. One neighborhood where they were when President Biden
these fine nominees. message board reads like this: was sworn in.
To the Committee on the Judiciary, Americans’ real wages—their pur-
My bill for this month will be $574 . . . it’s
Senator DURBIN, and all of my col- insane.
chasing power—has plummeted since
leagues, I say great work. Let’s keep Yes, ours was $800 for June. this all-Democratic government was
going. In Arizona, a restaurant worker sworn in.
I yield the floor. And the Democrats response? Print
didn’t mince words about scraping to-
I suggest the absence of a quorum. and spend hundreds of billions more,
gether enough to keep the lights and
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- make Americans without bachelor’s de-
air-conditioning on:
pore. The clerk will call the roll. grees pay off the graduate school debt
If I didn’t have roommates, I wouldn’t be
The senior assistant legislative clerk of doctors and lawyers, and throw
able to make it on the salary that I have.
proceeded to call the roll. themselves a party on the White House
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, Overall, inflation in Phoenix and At- lawn.
I ask unanimous consent that the order lanta is way, way higher than even the Our colleagues across the aisle cre-
for the quorum call be rescinded. sky-high national average. The coun- ated this human catastrophe. This run-
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- try as a whole is still grappling with away inflation was a policy choice by
pore. Without objection, it is so or- inflation over 8 percent, but Phoenix Democrats, and they aren’t even trying
dered. has seen a staggering 13 percent infla- to stop it.
tion in just the last year, and Atlanta I suggest the absence of a quorum.
RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
has seen nearly 12 percent. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
The Republican leader is recognized. Of course, for working Americans in pore. The clerk will call the roll.
INFLATION some other States, the most acute The senior assistant legislative clerk
Mr. MCCONNELL. This week’s infla- emergency is not the cost of summer proceeded to call the roll.
tion report confirmed what working cooling but, rather, the cost of winter Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask
people across this country know all too heating. unanimous consent that the order for
well: The costs of feeding a family and In places like New Hampshire and the quorum call be rescinded.
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
keeping the lights on have skyrocketed Vermont where many homes burn heat- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
more quickly this past year than at ing oil, this important price is up more pore. Without objection, it is so or-
any time since the wake of the Carter than 91 percent since President Biden dered.
administration. took office. INFLATION REDUCTION ACT OF 2022
A year and a half of crippling run- And in every corner of the country, Mr. THUNE. Madam President, the
away inflation is the most important one of the biggest collective headaches August inflation numbers came out
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September 15, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4629
this week, and they weren’t good. In- gone. For the Democrats, raising taxes to advance a partisan agenda for
flation was even higher than expected. has become an article of faith. which, I might add, neither the IRS nor
It was very clear that soaring prices And it goes far beyond raising money the Biden administration has provided
are likely to continue for quite a while, to help pay for their Big Government any accountability.
but as usual, it doesn’t seem to concern spending. The Democrats believe rais- Then there was the infamous tar-
the Democrats one bit. ing taxes on corporations and well-off geting of conservative groups for extra
The President was asked Tuesday if Americans is good in and of itself, even scrutiny under the Obama IRS, and the
he was concerned about August’s even- if those tax hikes have a negative ef- list goes on.
worse-than-expected inflation report. fect on less well-off Americans and the I haven’t even discussed the IRS’s
His answer? ‘‘No, I’m not.’’ economy. The tax hikes that the record of grossly underperforming—
It was just one more tone-deaf mo- Democrats have included in their so- some would say nonexistent—customer
ment for the President and the Demo- called Inflation Reduction Act will, in- service. During the 2022 tax season,
crats. deed, have a negative effect on our just 10 percent of taxpayers’ calls—10
On Tuesday, the President and the economy and on the hard-working percent of taxpayers’ calls—to the IRS
Democrats gathered at the White Americans who help support it. The were answered by an IRS employee.
House to congratulate themselves for Democrats’ tax hikes on businesses What we need to be doing is holding
having passed their so-called Inflation will result in slower growth, lower the IRS accountable, not setting tens
Reduction Act, a bill that will do noth- wages, and thousands of fewer jobs, and of thousands of new IRS agents loose
ing—nothing—to reduce inflation. That the Democrats’ tax hikes on conven- on taxpayers’ accounts.
is not just my opinion. That was the tional energy will result in higher en- Earlier this week, I joined my Repub-
conclusion of the nonpartisan Penn ergy prices for working families. lican colleagues on the Senate Finance
Wharton Budget Model and of the Dem- In addition to raising taxes, the Committee to introduce legislation to
ocrat chairman of the Senate Budget other main way the Inflation Reduc- prevent the IRS from using its new
Committee, who referred to the bill as tion Act raises revenue is by increasing funding to audit American workers or
the ‘‘so-called Inflation Reduction IRS audits and placing new burdens on small business owners earning less
Act’’ on the Senate floor while admit- taxpayers. than $400,000 per year.
ting it would do nothing to solve our The Democrats’ bill contains a whop- I also introduced a bill this week,
Nation’s inflation crisis. ping $80 billion in increased funding for along with Senator COLLINS, to im-
But that didn’t stop the Democrats the IRS. That is an increase in funding prove taxpayer service at the IRS. Our
from celebrating yesterday. For most which represents six times the annual legislation, called the Increase Reliable
of us, of course, it is difficult to under- budget of the IRS today. More than Services Now Act, would prevent the
stand what there was to celebrate. half of those funds, or $46 billion, are IRS from hiring new employees for en-
Leaving aside the issue of the 40-year- earmarked for increased IRS enforce- forcement until customer service at
high inflation, we already know that ment. Just 4 percent is for improving the IRS had reached a more acceptable
the bill will also fall short in another customer service, which should tell you level. It is unacceptable—unaccept-
respect—on deficit reduction. all you need to know about where the able—that taxpayers have a 1 in 10
The Democrats’ claims that the bill Democrats’ real priorities lie. chance of receiving assistance when
would provide meaningful deficit re- The bill would provide for the hiring calling the IRS, and the Agency should
duction were always somewhat dubi- of as many as 87,000 new employees, not be allowed to increase enforcement
ous, but even granting the Democrats’ which would more than double the cur- hires until it has achieved at least a
rosiest assumptions, President Biden rent size of the Agency and make the basic level of customer service.
wiped out any deficit reduction when IRS—make the IRS, if you can believe So we have 87,000 new employees,
he announced his massive student loan this—larger than Customs and Border which is double—double—the size of
giveaway 8 days—8 days—after the In- Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard the current IRS workforce, and we
flation Reduction Act was signed into put together, combined. have $80 billion, which is six times the
law. In the lead-up to the passage of the current annual budget of the IRS, with
So no inflation reduction, no deficit Democrats’ bill, the Biden administra- a specific focus: going after taxpayers
reduction. Oh, one other thing: The In- tion put out a statement declaring that in this country to try and get, raise—
flation Reduction Act will drive up en- the money for IRS enforcement would whatever—more revenue to fund the
ergy bills for Americans. not go to the increased audits of house- Democrats’ Big Government fantasies.
So the question is: What was there to holds making less than $400,000. Be- At the same time, 1 in 10 taxpayers is
celebrate? cause we had reason to doubt that that getting his calls returned at the IRS.
Well, for the Democrats, the Infla- would be the case, the Republicans put I will continue to work to increase
tion Reduction Act marked a chance to forward an amendment to the bill to IRS accountability and prevent hard-
finally push through some of their far- prevent the IRS from using its new working Americans from being
left, Green New Deal fantasies, things money to audit those Americans. squeezed to fund Democrats’ Green
like electric vehicle tax credits to help Every Democrat—every single Demo- New Deal spending.
wealthy Americans buy electric cars, crat—voted against the amendment. Like the $1.9 trillion American Res-
more than $60 billion—$60 billion—for So, I guess, the Democrats are happy cue Plan spending spree that came be-
‘‘environmental justice priorities,’’ in- to oppose more IRS audits of middle- fore it—which, I would add, helped
cluding $1.9 billion for things like iden- class Americans in theory, but they plunge our country into our current in-
tifying gaps in tree canopy coverage, don’t want to cut off the possibility of flation crisis—the Inflation Reduction
and the list goes on. So I think the those audits in practice if they end up Act is a bad deal for the American peo-
Democrats are pretty satisfied with needing them to help fund their Green ple, and all of the self-congratulatory
themselves over finally jamming New Deal spending. White House parties in the world aren’t
through elements of their Green New I don’t need to tell anyone that the going to change that basic funda-
Deal agenda. IRS is notorious for mishandling sen- mental fact.
Then, of course, they succeeded in ex- sitive taxpayer data. As recently as Americans are experiencing serious
tending increased ObamaCare subsidies this month, we learned that the IRS economic hardship, and Democrats are
that will push Americans off of private had inadvertently posted confidential doing nothing to help.
healthcare plans and into government- taxpayer data of around 120,000 individ- I yield the floor.
run care. uals on its website—private taxpayer The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. MAR-
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
Then—then—there are the tax hikes. information that was available to the KEY). The Senator from Iowa.
The current Democratic leader once general public. RAILWAY LABOR MANAGEMENT DISPUTE
said, ‘‘You don’t want to take money Then, of course, there was last year’s Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, as of
out of the economy when the economy leak, or hack, of confidential taxpayer 12:01 tomorrow morning, our Nation’s
is shrinking,’’ like it has in the pre- information that was shared with the transportation system was set to come
vious two quarters. But those days are left-leaning ProPublica and was used to a screeching halt. It now sounds like
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