Tennessee’s lawmakers are ripping the Biden administration as he and other Democrats attempt to convince Americans that the country is not on the cusp of a recession, despite the expected Thursday announcement of two straight quarters of economic shrinkage.
“Instead of changing the definition of recession, why won’t the White House change their policies that may get us in a recession in the first place?” Representative John Rose (R-TN-06) asked on Twitter, linking to a speech he gave on the floor of the U.S. House.
Instead of changing the definition of recession, why won't the White House change their policies that may get us in a recession in the first place? pic.twitter.com/I96fUPMb2L
— Congressman John Rose (@RepJohnRose) July 26, 2022
“For decades, a recession has been defined as two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth,” Rose said. “Therefore, if Thursday’s second-quarter [Gross Domestic Product] number is in the negative, then by definition, the United States economy will be in a recession.”
“However, that won’t stop the White House from doing everything it can to deny the obvious,” Rose said. “In fact, the White House Council of Economic Advisors is actively trying to change the definition of the word ‘recession.'”
In a July 20 post on its website, the White House did indeed attempt to blur the lines on the definition of the word recession:
What is a recession? While some maintain that two consecutive quarters of falling real GDP constitute a recession, that is neither the official definition nor the way economists evaluate the state of the business cycle. Instead, both official determinations of recessions and economists’ assessment of economic activity are based on a holistic look at the data—including the labor market, consumer and business spending, industrial production, and incomes. Based on these data, it is unlikely that the decline in GDP in the first quarter of this year—even if followed by another GDP decline in the second quarter—indicates a recession.
As the International Monetary Fund (IMF) called the economic outlook “gloomy,” Rep. Mark Green (R-TN-07), took a shot at the Biden administration.
“Add this to President Biden’s definition of a recession,” Green said sarcastically.
Add this to President Biden’s definition of a recession.https://t.co/mD49YwUYRr
— Rep. Mark Green (@RepMarkGreen) July 26, 2022
Tuesday morning, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) also blasted the Democrat media and the Biden administration.
“Rewriting definitions – we’ve seen the media do this before. Nothing is too extreme for these raging liberals masquerading as journalists. They are determined to prop up Biden’s failing presidency,” Blackburn said.
Rewriting definitions — we’ve seen the media do this before.
Nothing is too extreme for these raging liberals masquerading as journalists.
They are determined to prop up Biden’s failing presidency. https://t.co/PEofDiIL4x
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) July 26, 2022
Her counterpart, Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), also commented on the state of the economy.
“The result of this Administration’s incompetence is going to be more inflation, higher prices, and it’s going to make America less competitive as a whole,” he said.
The result of this Administration’s incompetence is going to be more inflation, higher prices, and it’s going to make America less competitive as a whole.
— Senator Bill Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty) July 27, 2022
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
