market and people are making “We have eleven and a half inflation, sorry, it’s tough to be different choices. million unfilled jobs and five you. When you are the party that “We also have supply chain million people looking for work. has spent more money, and that disruptions and inflation like We have three million more people money was part of your agenda, we’ve not seen in really two who are out of the workforce today and then you look around and generations. We have inflation than we did pre-COVID. We’ve wonder why inflation is occurring that is the highest we’ve seen got to get them back into the — well, you own it, right?” since 1982. We have supply chain workforce. We have to connect “The San Francisco Fed rated dislocations unlike we’ve seen them with skills and jobs. And the American Rescue Plan as since post-World War II. What there is a conservative solution being the key spark that ignited we saw in the post-World War II on workforce development, inflation. The San Francisco era was people purchasing more education, and training.” Fed is not some right-wing things on a massive scale than There is also, he said, organization. Janet Yellen headed ever before. For the five-year a conservative solution to up the San Francisco Fed before period after World War II, one strengthening supply chains and becoming Fed Chair … It is this out of five Americans purchased getting goods into the hands of Administration that ignited this washing machines. So they had American consumers in a more inflationary flame.” massive shortages of washing effective way. To lower inflation, McHenry machines. Well, did you try to “Everybody wants to talk said it is time for Republicans to order a new return to their roots. laptop in the last “Fiscal discipline two years? There is kind of the old“If House Republicans have an agenda that were similar time religion of we’re fighting for, we’re like Marines at issues, right?” Republicans,” he war. If we don’t have an agenda, we’re like According stated. “Let me remind to McHenry, you there was a guy Marines on leave.” Republicans Patrick McHenry named Paul Ryan who are in a good was all about fiscal Remarks to The Ripon Society discipline. We have position to meet these challenges March 30, 2022 to return to those not only because principles. Even of their belief in though it’s been long conservative principles that can be about roads, bridges, and ports,” forgotten by most members of the readily adapted to the future, but he observed. “Well, that’s not House Republican Conference, because Democrats are beholden the totality of supply chains. fiscal discipline is our answer to to liberal special interest groups Ninety-two percent of the world’s inflationary policies.” that are increasingly wedded to advanced semiconductors are McHenry concluded his the past. manufactured in Taiwan. Why? remarks by returning to the “Republicans are well- Well, it’s not because of cheap importance of having a positive positioned to be nimbler on power. And it’s not because of tax agenda, and why he believes it is workforce issues,” McHenry incentives. It’s because of brain critical that Republicans develop said, pointing to one area where power. So, we have to think much one to run on this year. he believes his party can offer a more holistically about our trading “A legislative agenda is better way. “That means offering relationships, about our tax policy, helpful to win the election,” a conservative answer to how we and about our regulatory policy to he said. “That means there’s a provide for child care in a more encourage people to manufacture counterpoint to just saying they’re fulsome way than we currently here in the United States.” awful and we’re not. To have an have in society today. How we Republicans also have to agenda is a useful and necessary embrace gig work and recognize remember, he added, the most thing, even in the midst of the ability to be an independent pressing challenge facing personality politics. contractor sets up nicely with Americans this year. “If House Republicans have Democrats, who are much more “The biggest issue right now an agenda that we’re fighting for, beholden to unions and therefore on voters’ minds is inflation,” we’re like Marines at war. If we can’t be as nimble on those McHenry declared. “If you’re in don’t have an agenda, we’re like issues.” power and you’re presiding over Marines on leave.” RF 26
RIPON FORUM May 2022
