House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) took to the floor of Congress on Monday, slamming Republicans for what he called a “bait and switch” after they campaigned on lowering grocery prices but have yet to take action. “The Republican bait and switch has three elements,” Jeffries said.
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“Part one: talk about lowering the high cost of living, but do nothing about it.” He continued his critique, outlining what he sees as the GOP’s real agenda. “Part two, enact massive tax cuts for billionaires and wealthy corporations that will do nothing to improve the quality of life of everyday Americans.”
Jeffries then accused Republicans of shifting the financial burden onto working-class Americans. “Part three: stick working-class Americans with the bill for those massive tax cuts for billionaires and wealthy corporations by destroying Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid as we know it.”
The Democratic leader also called attention to rising costs affecting Americans across the board. “Grocery costs are too high, insurance costs are too high, utility costs are too high, childcare costs are too high. America is too expensive,” he said. “It is not acceptable in the wealthiest country in the history of the world that far too many everyday Americans are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck.”
Jeffries’ remarks came shortly after Thomas A. Schatz, president of Citizens Against Government Waste and its lobbying affiliate, the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, appeared before the House Oversight Committee.
During the hearing, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) highlighted former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign promises regarding grocery prices—specifically the cost of eggs. Standing in front of a poster displaying eggs, Krishnamoorthi noted that “the cost of eggs has risen from $6.59 on Inauguration Day to $7.53 today.”
With inflation and the cost of living remaining top issues for voters heading into the 2024 election, Jeffries’ attack on Republican economic policies signals that Democrats plan to aggressively challenge the GOP’s messaging on affordability. Meanwhile, Republicans continue to blame the Biden administration for rising prices, setting the stage for an election-year battle over economic policy.