WASHINGTON – Today, Heritage Action, a conservative grassroots organization with two million grassroots activists, including thousands of Arizonans, released a statement from Executive Director Jessica Anderson slamming U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema for their support of the so-called Inflation Reduction Act despite the devastating impact the bill would have on Arizona families and businesses.
Senators Kelly and Sinema have failed in their duty to represent the interests of their constituents in Arizona. Instead of standing up for families, manufacturers, and small businesses, Kelly and Sinema have signaled support for the Left’s latest reconciliation package which will further harm Arizona’s economy and families by worsening inflation and hiking taxes by $16.7 billion for Americans in nearly all income brackets in 2023.
Biden’s inflation crisis is hitting Arizonans hard, and Senators Sinema and Kelly did their part to undermine the people of Arizona. Because of the policies they have supported, the Phoenix Metropolitan area has the highest inflation rate among major U.S. cities, with the CPI up 12.3% over the last year. This includes a 12.1% increase in food prices, a 43.3% increase in energy prices year over year, a 15.9% hike in housing costs, and an average gasoline price standing around $4.50 a gallon.
Kelly and Sinema’s support of this legislation makes it clear that they put their own political ambitions ahead of the economic interests or well-being of their constituents. These increases have real-life consequences for Arizonans, yet their elected leaders are supporting a bill to worsen the suffering of hardworking Arizona families, manufacturers, and small businesses. Through our grassroots advocacy and major digital campaign, Heritage Action is committed to helping Arizonans hold Kelly and Sinema accountable for failing families, businesses, and communities.
BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Senate is expected to take a vote to proceed on the reconciliation legislation this weekend. Late Thursday, Sinema announced her support of the package.
In July, Heritage Action announced a six-figure digital and grassroots campaign to put pressure on several Senate and House Democrats to oppose the Left’s so-called ‘Build Back Better’ legislation.
Shortly after the passage of the CHIPS Act in the Senate, which Heritage Action key voted against, U.S. Senators Manchin and Schumer announced a deal on reconciliation and the next iteration of the Build Back Better agenda.
Democrats’ proposed corporate minimum tax would especially burden manufacturers. The manufacturing industry would shoulder a 49.7% share of the new tax according to the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation.
In a new poll, 90% of Arizona’s manufacturers opposed the new tax plan included in the bill.
The Left’s reconciliation package will undoubtedly add to the inflation and economic turmoil the U.S. faces today. The proposed legislation will add $327 billion in new taxes to foot the bill for the Left’s radical climate activism. Despite their promises to not raise taxes for those making less than $400,000 a year, the bill raises the average tax rate for just about every income category.
The non-partisan Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation found that taxes would shoot up $16.7 billion for Americans making less than $200,000 in 2023. Taxes would go up by $14.1 billion on those earning between $200,000 and $500,000. Even as American industry is still reeling from the impact of the pandemic, shutdowns, and supply chain crises, this bill will make it even harder for American manufacturers.
Build Back Better will not be the first time that U.S. Senators Kelly and Sinema have turned their backs on Arizonans. They both voted for Biden’s reckless $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which was a leading contributor to Arizona’s runaway inflation. Both U.S. Senators also supported Biden’s radical nominees, like Michael Regan at the EPA, Deb Haaland at the Department of the Interior, and Jennifer Granholm at the Department of Energy, who all made it their mission to destroy American energy production and independence.