Political Quotes

“Mr. President, inflation numbers came out this morning, and, once again, they were not good. Inflation in June was 9.1 percent--9.1 percent, the highest level since November of 1981. Groceries are up 12 percent, on average. Baby food is up 14 percent, milk up 16 percent. Chicken is up 18 percent. And the list goes on. Household cleaning products are up 11 percent. Gas prices are up nearly 60 percent. Furniture and bedding are up 13 percent. Utility gas service is up 38 percent. Health insurance is up 17 percent and on and on and on. Everywhere Americans look, they are facing price increases, price increases on the most essential items: groceries, gas, their utility bills. And on top of all this, real average hourly earnings are currently declining at the fastest pace in 40 years. Fifty-eight percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Price increases on the most essential items--groceries, gas, their utility bills--all these things are forcing Americans to dig into their savings, when they have them, to try and make ends meet. Others are relying on things like credit cards or visits to food banks. Demand for food assistance has soared in recent months. One organization in my hometown in South Dakota received 600 more calls for food assistance in May of this year than it had received in the same month a year ago. Food banks often have fewer resources to meet the need, thanks to declines in donations and the high price of groceries.…”