Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement after voting against the Democrats’ Income Reduction Act.

“I’m in DC today to cast my vote against the largest expansion of the federal government in our history,” said Rep. Hern. “I’ve heard from thousands of Oklahomans this week, and it’s unanimous: no one wants this bill. No one believes the White House’s lies, because we can read it for ourselves and see that this legislation will raise taxes on Americans in every tax bracket. Never in our history has the federal government responded to a recession by raising taxes. It will only increase the hardships on American families, with 87,000 new IRS agents to target middle- and working-class families. People making $300,000 a year will get massive tax credits to purchase luxury electric vehicles, while the Biden Administration continues to ignore all-time-high gas prices. There is nothing redeemable in this legislation.”

Rep. Hern argued against the Senate Amendment to HR 5376 on the House floor earlier today. Click HERE to watch Rep. Hern’s speech on YouTube.

Remarks as prepared:

I rise today in strong opposition to the bill before us today.

 Never in our history has the federal government responded to a recession by raising taxes on Americans. It’s unthinkable.

Nearly everything our colleagues across the aisle have said about this bill has been proven false. I’ve noticed they’ve stopped calling it inflation legislation, because they know it’s not true. They’re hailing it as a climate and tax plan. I’ll give them that, cause this legislation will raise Americans’ taxes and give that money to hand-picked socialist “green” companies. I wouldn’t be proud of that if were I you.

What this bill absolutely will not do is reduce inflation. In fact, even liberal economists are warning it will do the exact opposite.

I’ve received thousands of phone calls, text messages, and emails from my constituents over the last week pleading with me to stop this bill from passing. They understand what half of this chamber does not… when the federal government spends more, American families have less.

I find nothing redeemable in this legislation, and therefore urge my colleagues to give this a resounding no.

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