Senator Marshall: Wages are Outpacing Inflation
Senator Marshall Joins CNN to Discuss SNAP, Inflation, Tariffs, & The Filibuster
Washington – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Jake Tapper on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper to discuss the recent judicial ruling that the Trump Administration must fund SNAP, the state of the economy and inflation in America, the effect tariffs have had on pricing, President Trump’s foreign policy, and the Senate filibuster.
Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview.
“Well, look, Republicans want to get the SNAP benefits, and we’ve given the Democrats 13 times to vote to do just that. And even tomorrow, they’re telling us they’re going to vote against SNAP benefits once again. So, I think that the Trump Administration was going to use these $5 billion of emergency funds that were meant for disasters. The judge told them to use those, so they will. But beyond that, then who do we choose? You know, there’s only a certain amount of money left. Do we not pay the troops? Do we not buy infant formula? Do we not pay for school lunches? What the real issue is here, my friends across the aisle need to come on back and fund the government again.”
On the current state of the economy and the costs of everyday goods:
“Well, Jake, I certainly think we can do better. I think that we inherited a tough situation, four years of cumulative inflation of about 25%. The best news is that wages are outpacing inflation. Food inflation is around 3% right now, compared to again, that 25% inflation. We want to do better. He’s absolutely right that the price of gasoline is down from over four and a half dollars a gallon to two and a half dollars a gallon. Interest rates are down. But we’ve got work to do, and I look forward to doing just that. We need to impact the cost of healthcare, and housing is something that I’m concerned about as well. The Biden administration left us with some huge problems in those areas. So, I’m looking forward to try to tackling the cost of healthcare, the cost of housing, and others.”
On the impact that tariffs are having on prices:
“Look, I think that they’re overstated. I think that we import less than 20% of our goods, the average tariff is going to probably impact the price to people here at home, one or 2% it’s going to be a one-time hit as well. On the other hand, we’re bringing in more manufacturing jobs as well. So, he’s used them for good leverage. We shipped our big shipments of sorghum today, yesterday, with soybeans. So, the tariffs, in my opinion, have worked for good leverage in bringing some of those jobs back home here as well.”
On whether or not President Trump is too distracted by foreign policy issues:
“Of course not. I think that the mission that President Trump was on was the most successful trade trip that he’s ever taken. Meanwhile, the proof is in the pudding. Our border is secure. The price of gasoline is down, like we talked about, our One Big Beautiful Bill, the largest tax cut in American history. There’s no tax on tips, overtime, or Social Security. We made permanent some of the great things for small business growth as well. Things like… one-year tax deductions for things like interest rates, those types of things as well. So, I think that one bill had more accomplishment in it than my previous four years here as well. So, I think there’s a time to be abroad, there’s a time to be here as well, and the President is accomplishing both of those.”
On whether the One Big Beautiful Bill actually helped ordinary people:
“So actually, wealthy people did not get a tax cut. We kept their taxes the same. But certainly, people who were on Social Security, overtime, tips, those people certainly are going to see improvement. But the biggest improvement is going to be given by the small business tax benefits, where we were taking care of, you know, bonus depreciation, the interest like I talked about, as well as being able to write off research and development. This is a pro-growth bill, and I think that everyone’s going to benefit.”
On the President’s recommendation to get rid of the filibuster:
“Look, every day that this shutdown goes on longer, I start leaning that direction. Instead, what I’m going to start pushing for is making the filibuster a Constitutional Amendment. And if we can get Democrats to support that, that’s going to reassure me that they’re not going to go nuclear on us next time that they have control of the Senate as well. I think that’s the best solution out there. So, I’m not there yet to nuke the filibuster, but it certainly has a great place. It has a great way of protecting the minority. Sometimes again, Republicans will be in the minority. It will protect us. Right now, it’s protecting Democrats, but I want it to be enshrined in the Constitution.”
###
Contact: Payton Fuller
