Biden says inflation hurting U.S. families, blames pandemic

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden blamed high inflation on pandemic disruptions to the economy and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, acknowledging that rising prices are “hurting” American families ahead of the November midterms.

In remarks at the White House on Tuesday, Biden again criticized Republican tax and economic proposals, saying his plans to fight inflation will lower costs while the GOP seeks to raise taxes on many Americans and “let companies off the hook.”

Biden said that his economic policies had helped slash unemployment and raise wages and that his administration was considering dropping Trump-era tariffs to combat rising prices.

“We’re discussing that right now,” he said in response to a reporter’s question after his speech. “We’re looking at what would have the most positive impact.”

But he acknowledged the harm rising prices are inflicting on many U.S. families.

“For every worker I met who’s gained a little bit of breathing room to seek out a better-paying job, for every entrepreneur who has gained the confidence to pursue their small business dreams, I know that families all across America are hurting because of inflation,” he said.

Solutions, he said, begin with the Federal Reserve, and he noted that he’s made several nominations for the central bank’s board of governors.

“While I’ll never interfere with the Fed’s judgments, decisions or tell them what they have to do — they’re independent, they’re independent — I believe that inflation is our top economic challenge right now,” Biden said. “I think they do too.”

With inflation at a four-decade high ahead of midterm elections in November that will decide control of Congress, Biden’s top aides have concluded that their best electoral strategy is to try to draw a sharp contrast with Republican policies.

They have targeted a proposal by a senior Republican senator, Rick Scott of Florida, that includes requiring all Americans to pay some federal income tax and requiring Congress to reauthorize all federal legislation every five years, which Democrats say would put entitlements like Social Security and Medicare at risk of repeal.

“They don’t want to solve inflation by lowering your costs --they want to solve it by raising your taxes and lowering your income,” Biden said. “I happen to think it’s a good thing when American families have a little more money in their pockets.”

Republican leaders including Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky have distanced themselves from Scott’s proposal, and the Florida senator has excoriated Biden for focusing on him. On Tuesday, before Biden’s inflation remarks, Scott said in a statement that the president should begin fighting inflation by resigning from office.

Asked to respond to Scott’s statement, Biden said of the senator: “The man has a problem.”

Biden’s speech comes the day before the federal government releases its latest monthly data on inflation, which has has reached the highest level since December 1981.

Economists expect consumer prices to moderate to 6.9% on average this year before falling to 2.4% in 2024, according to a Bloomberg survey earlier this month.

The Federal Reserve last week hiked interest rates by the most since 2000 in its strongest move yet to tame rising prices.

National polling shows the rising cost of gas, rent and food are a prime public concern, a worrying data point for Democrats six months ahead of the November elections.