Jackson Purchase News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered remarks today on the Senate floor addressing left-wing climate policy and its impact on energy prices.

“Since President Biden took office, the cost of energy has risen 41.65%. Fuel oil prices are up 56.8%. Gasoline is up 55.5%, and natural gas is up 22%,” McConnell stated.

He continued by highlighting the struggles faced by working families over the past three and a half years due to rising energy costs, while criticizing Democrats for their recent concern about high prices ahead of an election.

“Suddenly, right before an election, Democrats are concerned about the high prices Americans are paying to fill up their gas tank. But they still can’t seem to correctly assign the blame,” he said.

McConnell referenced comments from Democratic leaders blaming "Big oil companies" for profiting at the expense of American consumers. He argued that high energy prices are a deliberate outcome of left-wing climate policies, citing a report from Columbia University’s Center for Global Energy Policy: “‘A price on carbon makes those responsible for the damages caused by greenhouse gas emissions pay for those damages… A carbon price makes carbon-intensive goods and services more expensive...’”

“Well, there you have it. High prices for hardworking Americans are a feature, not a bug,” McConnell remarked.

He further criticized Washington Democrats for not acknowledging their role in rising energy costs and pointed to Senator Capito's comments on how funds from the Inflation Reduction Act are being used.

“The EPA sent $50 million dollars from the so-called Inflation Reduction Act to support the Climate Justice Alliance,” he noted.

McConnell questioned the Climate Justice Alliance's objectives and statements, including plans to “break rules” and “shut down extractive facilities.” He also mentioned their stance on various social issues unrelated to climate policy.

“Suffice it to say, the so-called Climate Justice Alliance is not comprised of America’s allies,” McConnell concluded. “And while they claim to advocate for ‘justice,’ they are burying working families in higher costs.”

“I can assure our colleagues that the American people won’t take kindly to being treated like suckers.”

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