WASHINGTON–The president of the United States is graveling, says Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), asking Iran for their help in producing more fossil fuels, rather than promoting America’s energy independence. Braun expressed his views on Pres. Biden’s trip to the Middle East on Fox and Friends Tuesday.
“When you look at what we’re doing now, groveling over there, asking them to increase their supply, and by the way most places are producing at full tilt because of the high price, I mean it just doesn’t make sense.,” he said.
Braun said he believes the administration has negated progress with Iran with their soft tone, in contrast to Pres. Trump’s harder stance on a country reluctant to give up its nuclear development. But, the Republican is also concerned that America is asking for help when none is needed.
“It frustrated me because in running anything, including this biggest business of the federal government, you’ve got to be smart enough to mix what you need to do in the short run even if it’s counter to your long-term goals. We should never have shot ourselves in the foot by eliminating our energy ascendancy and now have to go over and beg folks like Saudi Arabia.”
Braun also said he is concerned by inflation, which he says has been exacerbated by the government’s spending on The American Rescue Plan, worth about $2 trillion. In the Plan are provisions to promote equity at museums, safe spaces on school campuses and to promote equity and diversity in schooling.
The senator is troubled that much of the money, which translates into the sacrifices people are making to inflation, did not go to COVID relief, as sold.
“Brian, there is so much money sloshing around in that $2 trillion bill. Only 10 percent of it went to COVID. We’re going to see more and more of this over time. It’s part of the inflation bomb. Now we’re seeing how it’s blowing up around the country with stuff like this,” he said.
Braun said his office is working on getting an accounting of where all the money is going and how much is left.
“It’s no good. We’ve asked them to tell us what is left unspent: What do you have rat-holed away? We’re going to see it little by little, because they know if they did it all at once, it would shock everybody big time. They’re not going to pull it off. We are going to watch and sadly there is going to be more of it.”
