Missouri Republicans criticize Biden during Kansas City visit
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
President Joe Biden's first visit to Missouri as acting president was met with criticism from his opponents on the opposite side of the aisle.
Missouri Republicans shared their thoughts on the $1 trillion infrastructure law Biden came to Kansas City to promote. Sen. Josh Hawley, former governor Eric Greitens and Attorney General Eric Schmitt were among the politicians to fire back at Biden's presence in their state.
In his speech, Biden said his infrastructure law will not lead to increased inflation, but Hawley said inflation has already increased under the Democratic administration.
"Since Joe Biden has become president, our inflation statewide is higher than the national average," Hawley said. "That's because of Joe Biden and this bill is going to make it worse."
Greitens, who is running for Sen. Roy Blunt's seat in the U.S. Senate in next year's election, released a statement saying Biden's policies have increased the financial burdens Missourians face in their daily lives.
"The fact is that under Biden, Missourians have endured more economic hardships than ever before, especially with surging inflation rates and supply chain shortages," Greitens said. "It is more difficult today for everyday citizens to live their American Dream than it has been at any other time."
Schmitt is also running for Blunt's seat. He released a statement lamenting the increase in gas prices since Biden took office, which Biden addressed in his speech.
"In Missouri and around the country, things are worse now than before you took office," Schmitt said. "Families are spending more for food, gas, and other daily necessities as inflation hits a 30-year high."
Biden told the Kansas City crowd the new infrastructure law aims to build America back "from the middle out" by letting middle-class families and labor unions do the building. However, Hawley and other Republicans say Biden has attacked the working class.
"This is a guy who has targeted working people and working families in our state and across the country in a way that is basically unprecedented in my lifetime," Hawley said.
