(DCNF)—Republican strategist Scott Jennings asked Democratic Rep. Marilyn Strickland of Washington on Thursday why Americans should trust Democrats on inflation after it rocketed up during the Biden administration.
Democrats have criticized President Donald Trump over high prices, especially the price of eggs, which has doubled since November 2023, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, fueled by the culling of tens of millions of chickens in response to a bird flu outbreak. Jennings scoffed when Strickland claimed Democrats could bring the cost of living down.
“Why would or should the American people trust Democrats to lower the cost of living after the last four years?” Jennings asked Strickland, who responded, ““We have created more jobs —”
“No, no, cost of living. You brought it up. You said Trump‘s not delivering. I just want to know why we should trust Democrats who skyrocketed inflation for the last — what — why would I trust you? Why would I trust you?” Jennings said.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) hit a four-decade high of 9% in June 2022, after then-President Joe Biden signed multiple spending initiatives into law, including the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, despite warnings that it could cause inflation to go up. While Biden was in office, prices shot up by over 20%.
Strickland and former Biden campaign staffer Ashley Allison both tried to pile on to Jennings, with Strickland attacking the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is taking actions to eliminate waste and fraud while reducing the size and scope of the federal government since Trump established it by rebranding the United States Digital Service in a Jan. 20 executive order.
“Donald Trump is the president. He promised to lower cost of living. He is cutting jobs across the board from civil servants who have to support their families —” Strickland said, with Jennings responding, “So you believe in government jobs? You want more government jobs?”
“No, actually, I want jobs that actually help people. Do you know what civil servants do? They keep our air clean. They keep our water clean. They keep our food safe — don’t interrupt me,” Strickland shot back, with Jennings saying in response, “They take taxpayer money to fund the whole thing.”
After Allison, Strickland and “CNN NewsNight” host Abby Phillip all defended government employees, Jennings got a point in, even as they talked over him.
“This is the Democratic plan: More government jobs,” he said.
