Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sidestepped giving the economy a letter grade during his only debate with Connecticut Republican Senate candidate Leora Levy Tuesday night, but when pressed to do so by the panelist, he responded the grade is “ongoing,” and “I don’t think that we can give it a grade midstream.”
Levy, however, plainly answered, “I would grade the economy ‘F.’”
Republican @LeoraLevyCT: “I’m concerned about the future…I'm going to fight for Connecticut, fight for your children and their future, fight for our country." pic.twitter.com/OskZqtMbPi
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 3, 2022
Even as Blumenthal appeared to acknowledge inflation as a central issue in the midterm election in his opening statement, in which he admitted “the stakes are higher” now and said “families confront higher costs,” he failed to respond to the question presented to him: “Given the Federal Reserve’s decision today to once again hike interest rates to combat inflation and that Democrats have controlled the White House and both chambers of Congress for two years now, what grade would you give the U.S. economy today?”
Instead, Blumenthal launched into what he sees as vital actions to take to “stop inflation, which is in fact a major issue today,” he said, including a “windfall profits penalty on oil and gas companies” and a child care tax credit.
Blumenthal accused Republicans of wanting to give tax cuts to the wealthy, while he said he wants to see more benefits extended to the middle class. He also said Republicans would slash Social Security and Medicare funding.
.@LeoraLevyCT on Dems’ reckless spending: “He raised taxes on the middle class with the Biden-Blumenthal build inflation back better act…You were warned by Larry Summers and other Democrat economists that this would be the result…I would grade the economy an F.” pic.twitter.com/Gnlmld8Yhj
— NRSC Rapid Response (@NRSC_Rapid) November 2, 2022
Levy countered that the unprecedented inflation Americans are experiencing now “was deliberately inflicted on us by the Biden policies, voted for by my opponent.”
“The first thing I would do is stop the spending,” she continued. “The Biden-Blumenthal Build Inflation Back Better Act … will not reduce inflation, and it will not affect climate change.”
Levy stressed the need to “reignite energy production,” calling the current situation “an intentional attack … which has contributed to the inflation all of us are feeling.”
“By killing our production on day one in office, canceling the Keystone pipeline, canceling leases, ending exploration on lands and public waters, we have really crushed our energy industry,” she said. “We have created this shortage, and everybody is paying the price.’’
Blumenthal touted that he “pushed President Biden to release more Strategic Petroleum Reserve,” and “he did it,” he said.
“Prices came down,” he continued. “My opponent opposed it … Keystone is a distraction. It never would have delivered any product. It was simply to export it abroad.’’
Senator Blumenthal trusts women. He always has.
Trump SuperFan Leora Levy celebrated the end of Roe v. Wade. Just as Trump's nominees said they'd respect precedent – then immediately violated that promise – Levy's dodges and empty promises on abortion rights are meaningless. pic.twitter.com/TwfR1maUP9
— Connecticut Dems (@CTDems) November 3, 2022
Blumenthal, referring to abortion as “health care,” stressed his support for Roe v. Wade and accused several of the current Supreme Court justices of saying during their confirmation hearings they respected the case as “precedent.”
“And, then, at the first opportunity, they ripped it apart,” he stated, and said it was “disingenuous” for Levy to deny the overturning of Roe could lead to “a ban on contraception.”
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Susan Berry, PhD, is national education editor at The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Connecticut Senate Debate” by WFSB 3.
