Here & Now

Baldwin Touts, Johnson Derides the Inflation Reduction Act

Frederica Freyberg:

A sweeping climate health and tax bill dubbed by Democrats as the Inflation Reduction Act went to the floor of the U.S. House today for passage. Last weekend the Senate passed the measure with zero Republicans voting in flavor. The $437 billion spending bill includes nearly $370 billion investment in energy and climate reform. It includes $60 billion for renewable energy infrastructure and also consumer tax credits for electric vehicles. On the healthcare side, the bill includes allowing the feds to negotiate prescription drug prices for Medicare, and extends subsidies for Affordable Care Act health plans, and the measure creates a 15% minimum tax for corporations making $1 billion or more in income. All told, bringing in more than $300 billion in revenue. One part of the bill getting notice from folks who might be in the market for clean cars, a new $7,500 tax credit for new electric vehicles, and a $4,000 credit for used electric vehicles.

Tammy Baldwin:

The Inflation Reduction Act will lower energy costs for consumers and help us meet our long-term’s emission goals to combat climate change.

Frederica Freyberg:

Fresh off voting for the measure, Wisconsin U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin toured a Madison company building out electric charging stations with the local utility.

Jeffrey Keebler:

Transportation is the leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Advancing electric transportation powered by an increasingly cleaner electric grid is key to creating a more sustainable future, locally and globally.

Frederica Freyberg:

For her part, Baldwin heralds the congressional legislation.

Tammy Baldwin:

The Inflation Reduction Act makes the biggest investment in combatting climate change that we have ever made in the United States.

Ron Johnson:

I mean, they are doing things —

Frederica Freyberg:

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson was among all the Republicans who voted against the measure and among other things released a statement calling its title a misnomer, saying “The Orwellian named ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ will do no such thing… This is a Green Energy Fantasy that will more likely drive the cost of energy up rather than down.” Johnson also blasts the 15% tax on billion dollars plus corporations and money in the package to boost IRS tax enforcement.