Georgia’s Congressional Delegation had mixed reactions Friday as House Democrats passed the Inflation Acceleration Act and sent it to President Joe Biden’s desk. While Democrats praised the bill, Republican members of Georgia’s delegation had harsh words for the passage.
U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA-01) claimed that “Washington Democrats just threw fuel on the fire of inflation.”
“Washington Democrats can add ‘arsonist’ to their résumés today, having unleashed a wildfire on the American peoples’ hard-earned taxpayer dollars,” said Carter. “This bill spends billions on Green New Deal policies, weaponizes the IRS, spikes taxes for working-class Americans, pours fuel on the fire of inflation, and will lead to dozens, if not hundreds, of fewer cures coming to market over the next decade.
“Medical professionals swear to ‘do no harm.’ It is time Congress took the same oath and quit its assault on patients and taxpayers,” Carter added.
Carter attempted to include two amendments in the Inflation Acceleration Act that were rejected by the Democratic Members on the Rules Committee. The amendments, he said, would have:
● Struck the portion of the Environmental Justice block grants that is dedicated to federal and state lobbying and rulemaking by community groups.
● Restored the full rebate pass-through and forced Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to pass every last penny of rebates to the patient instead of letting PBMs steal those dollars to pad their own pockets.
Congressman Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09) took to the House floor Friday to speak out against the legislation.
“As Americans combat a recession and 40-year high inflation, Democrats are doubling down on their failed policies — indisputably wreaking more havoc on Biden’s broken economy,” said Clyde. “It is unconscionable that Democrats are burning through billions on liberal projects, contributing to our ballooning national debt, and burdening Americans with tax hikes amidst numerous economic crises.
“Additionally, Democrats’ bloated bill militarizes the IRS with an auditing army of 87,000 new agents to target middle-class Americans and small businesses. As someone who personally experienced being wrongfully targeted by the IRS firsthand, I can assure folks that it’s not a quick, cheap, or easy fight,” Clyde added. “Yet, since Democrats rejected my amendment to eliminate the IRS enforcement provision of this bill, this nightmare will soon become a reality for far too many Americans. Furthermore, the lengths the corrupt Biden Administration will go to weaponize our government agencies against political opponents and those who dare to raise grievances present legitimate concerns surrounding a new supersized IRS.”
Congressman Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03) also had harsh words about the legislation.
“Instead of reversing course away from reckless spending policies that caused an economic recession, Democrats have doubled down and rammed through another massive tax and spend plan which will only result in higher prices for consumers and exacerbate the economic crisis,” said Ferguson. “To make matters worse, the Democrats are using this bill to weaponize the IRS by hiring 87,000 new agents to harass and audit thousands of American families, farmers, and small businesses without probable cause. This bill lays the groundwork for the IRS to be able to snoop through American’s private bank accounts and track their financial transactions in the future. Simply put, more big government spending will not rescue us from this recession and that’s why I adamantly opposed this legislation.”
Across the aisle, Democratic Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02) praised what he termed “historic legislation” – adding that it would “put money back into the pockets of hardworking Georgia families while at the same time reduce the federal budget deficit by $300 billion to fight inflation.”
“The Inflation Reduction Act puts people over politics, lowers costs, creates good-paying jobs, and builds safer communities for all Americans,” said Bishop. “This bill will lower prescription drug costs, as well as keep health insurance premium costs low. It supports energy policies that address climate change, create jobs, and give America more energy options right in our backyard. That will lower utility bill costs and prices at the gas pump.”
