Several Republican senators spoke out against Senate Democrats who passed the Inflation Reduction Act, a bill decided in a tiebreaking vote cast by Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday afternoon.
The final vote followed an all-night Senate “vote-a-rama” process for a bill with more than $400 billion in spending and $700 billion in taxes.
“The United States is experiencing a recession and, instead of taking active steps to fix the economic crisis, the Biden Administration and the Democrats are doubling down on the dumb policies that created this mess,” Sen. Kevin Kramer (R-ND) shared on Twitter.
The United States is experiencing a recession and, instead of taking active steps to fix the economic crisis, the Biden Administration and the Democrats are doubling down on the dumb policies that created this mess.
— Sen. Kevin Cramer (@SenKevinCramer) August 7, 2022
“Acting alone, Senate Democrats’ reckless bill raises taxes, mandates new regulations, and institutes price hikes, all of which will only worsen inflation,” he added. “This bill is fiscally irresponsible, needlessly bureaucratic, and damaging to every sector of the American economy from energy to agriculture to pharmaceuticals and manufacturing. It’s going to put a dent in every American’s bottom line while hiring 80,000 IRS agents to make it as painful as possible. Democrats must be held accountable for single-handedly passing the Inflation Enhancement Act.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) shared his concerns in a statement sent to The Daily Wire following the vote.
“The Schumer-Manchin bill will drive up inflation and prices, hammer small businesses and American manufacturing, increase the price of gas, and sic the IRS on Americans, all while raising taxes on Americans in nearly every tax bracket including those who make less than $400,000 a year,” Cruz’s statement said, in part.
“This bill is just Biden’s Build Back Broke by another name. It’s a gift to radical environmentalists and to rich, liberal elites. It uses taxpayer dollars to subsidize electric vehicles while imposing even more new taxes to raise the price of gas in the middle of out-of-control inflation and a recession,” he added.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) also blasted the “reckless” act.
“I voted against this reckless tax and spending spree because it will cause more pain for North Carolinians already struggling to fill up their gas tanks and pay for their groceries and other essential goods their families need,” he wrote.
I voted against this reckless tax and spending spree because it will cause more pain for North Carolinians already struggling to fill up their gas tanks and pay for their groceries and other essential goods their families need.
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) August 7, 2022
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) added that the act would “raise taxes on small businesses and working families, including by hiring 87,000 more IRS agents to target more Americans with tax audits.”
He argued, “Instead, the Senate should be focused on pro-job, pro-growth policies to reduce the cost of gas, goods and services for Kansans.”
My statement on voting to oppose the Democrats’ tax and spending bill today pic.twitter.com/Ef5bK9FQhg
— Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) August 7, 2022
Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt’s office released a statement following the final Senate vote that condemned the so-called Inflation Reduction Act.
“Last year, Democrats passed a massive, partisan spending bill despite warnings it would fuel historic inflation. Now, families are facing the highest level of inflation in 41 years, straining budgets to the breaking point,” Blunt wrote.
“This latest round of massive spending, passed once again without a single Republican vote, will only make matters worse. The bill does nothing to lower inflation and raises taxes on middle-class families during a recession. It advances partisan priorities like supercharging the IRS and restricting domestic energy production. Democrats need to start listening to the people who are stuck paying for their failed economic policies,” he added.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) called the bill a vote to raise taxes on working families.
“Senate Democrats just voted to raise taxes on working families, kill West Virginia’s coal industry, and empower the IRS to spend more time snooping around Main Street,” Capito tweeted alongside her full statement.
Senate Democrats just voted to raise taxes on working families, kill West Virginia's coal industry, and empower the IRS to spend more time snooping around Main Street.
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/vcdu5PAvU8— Shelley Moore Capito (@SenCapito) August 7, 2022
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) also released a statement following the tiebreaking vote by Harris.
“Today, Democrats made defining choices that showed the American people their radicalism has no bounds, choosing green energy fantasies & big government over the needs of American families, workers, & businesses,” Hagerty tweeted.
Today, Democrats made defining choices that showed the American people their radicalism has no bounds, choosing green energy fantasies & big government over the needs of American families, workers, & businesses. My full statement on voting against Dems' tax-increase legislation⬇️ pic.twitter.com/RwC68mIKT7
— Senator Bill Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty) August 7, 2022
In contrast, President Joe Biden released a statement following the bill’s Senate passage claiming it sides with American families.
“Today, Senate Democrats sided with American families over special interests, voting to lower the cost of prescription drugs, health insurance, and everyday energy costs and reduce the deficit, while making the wealthiest corporations finally pay their fair share,” the president wrote.
The bill now moves to the House for consideration where Democrats hold an advantage. The president is expected to sign the bill into law if passed by the House.