Kansas Congressman Tracey Mann says the country is on the wrong track when it comes to spending and certain policies.
During an interview on KVOE’s Talk of Emporia on Friday, Mann said COVID-19 was a glaring example of both issues coming together. He says business owners across the First Congressional District that he represents, including Lyon County, are struggling to find workers because people can make more on unemployment benefits than they can by working.
Mann says the country has added trillions of dollars in debt through COVID-19 stimulus packages and could add $4 trillion more as part of a sweeping infrastructure plan.
Mann was pleased to mention improvements in the agriculture economy as trade has picked up.
However, Mann says the amount of money injected into the economy over the past several months has led to increasing concerns about inflation. He says that’s already evident through increased fuel prices and increased costs for building materials, and he expects more signs of increased inflation in the short term.
Mann, a Republican, says the party is unified despite action Thursday to oust Liz Cheney, an increasingly sharp critic of the party’s allegiance to former President Donald Trump, from her leadership role in the party. Issues remain with the result of last November’s election, and Mann deflected a question on whether he considered Biden the country’s legitimate leader — saying Trump willingly left office, essentially resolving that situation. He says November’s results demonstrate the divided nature of America now and has led to “hyperpartisanship” in Washington.
