August 12, 2022

Friends,

I hope you and your family are well! I wanted to provide you with a few updates regarding what’s going on –

Why I Oppose the So-Called "Inflation Reduction Act"

The Democrats’ so-called "Inflation Reduction Act" will do nothing to address inflation but will only exacerbate the pain Americans are feeling financially by increasing government spending to fund the radical Left’s "Green New Deal" agenda and continued war on American energy. In reality, this legislation should be called the "Inflation Acceleration Act" because it will drive us deeper into a recession and make matters exponentially worse for Americans dealing with the financial strain of rising costs due to unrestrained government spending. This bill is nothing more than a hyper-partisan rush-to-green wish list and socialist spending package at the expense of the American taxpayer.

This is the Democrats’ centerpiece legislation, and instead of protecting Americans by hiring school security officers or border control agents, they decide to double the size of the IRS and hire 87,000 IRS agents to harass hardworking American taxpayers. This is un-American, and our Founders would no doubt be appalled.

Americans cannot afford this legislation or its destructive implications from the doubling of the IRS Army, increasing our reliance on China, raising taxes on Americans and small businesses, instituting socialist price controls on medicine, allocating $740 billion toward green energy subsidies and tax credits, and increasing taxes on energy sources, which could raise fuel costs. I oppose this legislation that will make our nation’s energy and economic crises worse and will continue to fight back against it because of the damage this will do.

More on the Democrats' "Inflation Reduction Act"

Americans are in the middle of a recession as they struggle with surging inflation and historic gas prices. Instead of addressing the runaway government spending that fuels inflation, Democrats forced a bill through Congress that will increase taxes on Americans to fund their socialist, rush-to-green agenda. The so-called “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” will actually make inflation worse by spending billions of dollars on the radical environmentalist Left’s green priorities. Of the destructive measures in this package, here are some of the worst provisions and a few of the many reasons I oppose this package:

1. Includes $369 billion in giveaways to “green” special interests that will increase our reliance on China.

2. Weaponizes the IRS with $80 billion in new funds (six times IRS’s annual budget) to hire tens of thousands of new IRS agents, which would make the IRS employ more bureaucrats than the Pentagon, State Department, FBI, and Border Patrol combined. 

3. Institutes socialist price controls on drugs to force drug manufacturers to accept whatever prices the Biden Administration sets. In turn, this reduces innovation and will slow the innovation of lifesaving new treatments.

4. Manipulates the tax code in the name of “environmental justice,” hurting our economy and costing jobs in the process.

5. Creates $40 billion in government-run, taxpayer-liable “climate change” loans.

6. Allocates $500 million for the Department of Homeland Security to carry out “sustainability and environmental programs” instead of responding to the southern border crisis (as it is intended to do).

7. Expands Obamacare.

8. Increases taxes on sources of energy, which will further increase fuel costs

9. Funds the EPA to push “corporate climate action commitments,” supporting ESG “environmental, social and governance” scores.

10. Radicalizes the Department of Agriculture by funneling $20 billion through USDA for the Left’s Green agenda.

11. Allocates $3 BILLION for Department of Transportation projects to address the claim that infrastructure is “racist.”

12. Includes a $52 BILLION tax hike on small businesses.

13. Adds a $124 BILLION tax on American pensions.

14. Builds Back Beijing through $369 BILLION in giveaways to green special interests that will increase our reliance on China.

15. Raises taxes on Americans during a recession, which makes ZERO sense.

It’s no secret the Democrats’ “Inflation Acceleration Act” will drive us deeper into a recession and do nothing to address the skyrocketing inflation American face each day. Increasing government spending and boosting taxes is NOT the way to respond to surging inflation and will only make matters worse. Instead of tackling inflation by cutting taxes and decreasing government spending, the bill is nothing more than a hyper-partisan rush-to-green wish list and socialist spending package at the expense of the American taxpayer.

FBI Raids President Trump's Home and the Weaponized DOJ/FBI

The FBI raided a former President’s home — but failed to ever go to Hillary’s home for the private server, get Hunter’s laptop, or investigate the Clinton Foundation. We have a two-tiered justice system in this country: one for the liberal elites and one for everyone else.

The weaponization and politicization of federal agencies is egregious and scary. These are Gestapo-like tactics. If the FBI can do this to President Trump, what do you think 87,000 new IRS agents will do to the American people?

The Biden Administration has abused its power and completely weaponized the FBI and DOJ for political purposes. This week's unprecedented raid on President Trump's home was a scene from a Third World Country and a dark day in our nation's history. These are the scare tactics of authoritarian countries trying to silence political threats and opposition. 

We live in a country where there seems to be no penalty or recourse for the ongoing crimes committed by Democrats in power (think no further than the deep-seated corruption of the Biden and Clinton crime families), yet the FBI raids a former President’s home a year and a half after he left the White House… Americans deserve an explanation. To hear more of my thoughts on this from a radio interview this week, click HERE.

Biden's Summer of Inflation

The “summer of inflation” drags on as consumer prices rose by 8.5% in July, remaining near a 40-year high. The Democrats want you to get complacent with this surging inflation, and Joe Biden even said inflation reached “0%” in July. What? Tell that to the moms and dads struggling to afford gas to take their children to soccer practice, buy back-to-school supplies, and to keep food on the table. In July, Gasoline was UP 44.0%, Food bought away from home was UP 7.6%, Food bought to prepare at home was UP 13.1%, and Transportation was UP +9.2%.

Hardworking American families cannot afford these prices and another tax and spend package to pay for the Left’s climate wish list. The inflation legislation we’re voting on this week will cause inflation to accelerate. It’s time to rein in federal government spending.

Back to School in Biden's America 

Americans are paying more for virtually everything in Joe Biden’s America. Here’s a look at how this year’s Back to School shopping will cost parents more due to Bidenflation and reckless government spending. The Democrats’ so-called “Inflation Reduction Act” will only increase federal government spending and exacerbate surging costs.

All of the Above Energy Op-ed

South Carolina leads the way in delivering an all-of-the-above energy approach to power the Palmetto State. Click HERE to check out my latest op-ed in the Washington Times on my "All of the Above" Energy Tour to the Third District last month.

Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times

In the District 

Three Seneca police officers were recognized at a city council meeting for their actions to save a man’s life who was trying to commit suicide last night. 

Saluda All-Stars won the 2022 Dixie Youth World Series last week.  There were 11 teams representing southern states and the Saluda girls took home the title. Saluda held a parade to celebrate the girls' win this past week. 

The popular Perseid meteor shower is passing by South Carolina this week. The best time to watch would be late tonight with little to no artificial light. 

It is an honor to serve the Third District of South Carolina. Should you or your family need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact my office directly.