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Republicans on social media praised Sen. Bernie Sanders’ criticism that the Democrats’ proposed climate and spending legislation would have little effect on inflation.
The Independent Socialist from Vermont took the Senate floor while the Senate was voting on a motion to proceed with their proposed legislation called the Inflation Reduction Act. Mr Sanders made his remarks as Vice President Kamala Harris arrived to break the tie to start the debate.
Mr. Sanders spent a few minutes as the vote took place on the Senate floor alone, before pointing out that the Congressional Budget Office downplayed the impact on rising positions of the proposed Democratic legislation.
“I want to take a moment to say a few words about the so-called deflationary bill that we’re debating this afternoon,” he said. “And I say so-called by the way, because according to the CBO and other economic organizations that have studied this bill, it will actually have little impact on inflation.”
Mr. Sanders, who is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called on Democrats to change the legislation.
“But if the 50 members of the Democratic Caucus were together today, we could pass some very important amendments that would have a profound impact on improving the lives of working people across our country and could begin the process of restoring faith in our democracy. . He said to the floor.
In response, many Republicans echoed his remarks.
David Pope, communications director for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, tweeted a GIF of Mr. McConnell looking up and smiling.
Kate Cooksey Noyes, the communications director for the Senate Republican conference, said many Republicans have said the same thing.
“Well yes. That’s what we were saying,” he tweeted. “Specifically about the lack of effect on inflation mentioned in this tweet.”
The Republican National Committee’s investigative Twitter account also posted video of Mr Sanders’ speech.
Democrats hope to pass the legislation through a process called budget reconciliation, which allows them to pass it with just a simple majority and avoid a Republican filibuster.
But with only 50 seats in the Senate, they need all members of their caucus along with Ms. Harris to be the tie. Mr Sanders had previously told reporters he was disappointed with the legislation before his speech
“And I think nobody can deny that this legislation doesn’t address the big crises that working families face,” he said Saturday. In particular, he criticized the fact that Medicare will only be able to negotiate 10 prescription drugs. In turn, he proposed legislation that would allow it to negotiate drug prices for all drugs.
“Instead of taking four years to negotiate 10 drugs, what we should be doing is exactly what the Veterans Administration has been doing for 30 years,” he said.
Likewise, he also criticized the legislation allowing lease sales for additional drilling in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico.
“I obviously have deep concerns about the wisdom of opening up millions of acre-feet of domestic water to fossil fuel drilling, which is the exact opposite of what we should be doing,” he told reporters. “If we are going to be effective in combating climate change.”
Mr. Sanders defended Republicans by parroting his criticism of the legislation when he spoke The independent after leaving the floor of the Senate.
“What they retweeted was accurate, okay,” he said. “Look, the truth is the truth.”
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