Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles praised Tennessee U.S. Senators Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn for their votes against H.R. 7691, known as the $40 billion Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022.
In a statement, Ogles said, “It’s time we follow the words of President Trump and put America First. At a time when mothers cannot find baby formula, we are facing runaway inflation and a disgraceful collapse of our southern border, this inept Biden administration seems hell-bent in destroying our economy and the middle class with it.”
Ogles said he supports the Ukrainian people and their fight for freedom against Russian invaders but noted, “Just as we cannot be the world’s police, we cannot be the world’s checkbook. Any further aid package to Ukraine should include 3-to-1 spending cuts, Inspector General oversight, and require that military aid dollars be spent on American-made arms and equipment.”
Ogles added, “It’s America first, not Ukraine first, and we the people want this White House and this Congress to understand we’ve had enough of the rhetoric, the reckless spending and the failed policies; it’s time for solutions.”
The Tennessee Star previously reported that Hagerty and Blackburn were two of the 11 senators who voted May 16 against expediting a floor vote on President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s $40 billion aid package to Ukraine, H.R. 7691.
Hagerty told The Tennessee Star Report host Michael Patrick Leahy on Tuesday morning that he is frustrated by the Biden administration’s prioritizing of other countries while ignoring the problems at home.
“We need to fix what’s happening here at America first,” he said. “We need to be taking our own problems seriously as a nation before we dump $40 billion into protecting the sovereignty of another nation.”
Ogles, in his agreement with Hagerty and Blackburn, echoed former President Donald Trump’s words on the Biden administration’s actions.
The former president said, “The Democrats are sending another $40 billion to Ukraine, yet America’s parents are struggling to even feed their children. There is a massive formula shortage, but no one is talking about it – it is a national disgrace.”
“It is unthinkable that in the year 2022, American families are unable to get baby formulas for their children,” added Trump.
Ogles is a top-tier candidate for the Republican nomination in the race for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat. The Star recently reported that the candidate’s campaign raised $453,000 its first month.
The Republican primary is scheduled to take place on August 4.
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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]. Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, and Parler.
Photo “Andy Ogles” by Andy Ogles. Background Photo “U.S. Capitol” by GPA Photo Archive.
