GOP Rep. Grothman says Dems can’t be trusted to lower gas prices or inflation, given Biden’s record

Wisconsin Republican Rep. Glenn Grothman argues that Democrats in Congress cannot be trusted to enact policies that would lower gas prices, pointing to Biden-era data to support his position.He said that voters should remember the economic conditions under former President Joe Biden as they head to the polls, arguing that Democratic energy policies have resulted in higher energy prices. Grothman criticized Democrats for opposing oil drilling in Alaska, fracking in North Dakota and the Keystone XL pipeline.
“The reason we have high gas prices is we have a shortage of supply, which always results in the higher cost,” Grothman said during an interview on the “Just the News, No Noise” TV program this week. 
Grothman: “You expect these people to lower the price of gas?” 
Grothman warned that increased government spending could fuel further inflation. Grothman added that Democratic energy policies hampered domestic production under Biden and contributed to driving up costs at the pump. “The Democrat Party is the party that didn’t want to drill in Alaska, they didn’t want to do any fracking in North Dakota, they didn’t want to build the Keystone Pipeline,” Grothman said. “And now you expect these people to lower the price of gas?”
The Wisconsin congressman pointed to California as an example of the consequences of Democratic energy policies, saying gasoline there was selling for $6.40 a gallon, compared with $4.05 a gallon in other areas he referenced. The national average is currently $4.37 per gallon, according to the AAA.
Grothman cautioned that high gasoline prices could persist for years without expanded domestic energy production and additional refining capacity. “You’re going to have high gas prices not for the next two months until the [Iran] war is over. You’re going to have high gas prices for the next 15 years if we don’t start building some refineries around here,” he said.
“If you want to see the day of $2.10 a gallon again, you better vote Republican for more refineries and more oil coming out of the sea and more oil coming out of North Dakota and more oil coming out of Alaska,” Grothman added.
Correlation between government spending and inflation
The conversation turned to inflation, where Grothman blamed the record high inflation under Biden on a surge in federal spending and accused Democrats of pushing policies that could drive prices higher again.
“The reason we had high inflation is high spending, which is what the Democrats are usually known for,” Grothman said. He added that inflation had peaked at 9.1% in June 2022, according to the Consumer Price Index.
According to AAA, gas prices reached $5.016 per gallon under Biden in June 2022.
“It was the highest since like the 1970s or early 1980s on inflation, and you’re going to get more of that,” Grothman said. “And what happens when you have spending, spending, spending? You have inflation, inflation, inflation.”
Asked how Republicans could improve their standing with voters in the final three weeks before the election, Grothman urged the party to highlight what he described as achievements by President Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress.
“I just think Republicans have to talk about all that was done, not only by the Congress but by President Trump’s administration as well,” he said, citing trade agreements with China, lower prescription drug costs and tax provisions affecting tips, overtime pay and interest on car loans.
Grothman said that the tax changes the GOP made were designed to benefit working Americans rather than wealthy taxpayers. “You’re not aiming for some big billionaire when you cut the tax on tips or when you put a deduction for interest on car loans,” he said. “Those are all for the average guy.”
He also touted what he described as improvements in U.S. trade relations and a reduction in the trade deficit with China, crediting Trump and congressional Republicans for the improvements. 
Grothman urged Republicans to counter Democratic criticism by focusing on their economic record and reminding voters of the inflation experienced during Biden’s administration.

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