U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) criticized President Joe Biden and their Democrat colleagues on the passage of the $740 billion “Inflation Reduction Act” Sunday. As expected, no Republicans supported the measure, and so by a 51 to 50 vote, with Vice President Kamala Harris cast the deciding vote.

The Inflation Reduction Act, described by Forbes as “a slimmed-down version of the Build Back Better bill,” allows the government to control the price of prescription medications, contains funding for fighting climate change, would implement larger taxes for wealthy corporations, expand the IRS by some 87,000 agents, and more more.

Democrats claim the bill will tackle the 40-year-high inflation in the country, however, Republicans flatly reject the assertion, saying the bill will drive prices even higher.

Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty issued statements blasting the bill’s passage in the Senate.

“During a recession and with inflation at a 41-year high, Democrats just passed a bill to spend over $700 billion, increase taxes and decrease energy production,” Senator Marsha Blackburn wrote in a Twitter thread.

“The Democrats’ reckless tax and spending plan includes nearly $370 billion to fund the Green New Deal, $64 billion for Obamacare, and hundreds of billions in new taxes on American businesses and manufacturers. The spending spree also includes $80 billion to double the number of IRS agents — practically giving every American a personalized tax auditor. We should be cutting taxes, not increasing them.”

“It is a shame that Senate Democrats have forced through a socialist agenda that will make life more difficult and expensive for Tennesseans,” Blackburn concluded.

Senator Hagerty’s statement regarding the passing of the bill read, “The American people are currently facing a number of unprecedented crises brought about by Democrats’ radical policies: soaring inflation, record-high gas prices, rising crime, a fentanyl crisis, open borders, and mounting threats from abroad. Yet rather than do something to address any of these pressing crises, Democrats have instead chosen to ignore them and make matters worse by raising taxes – the burden of which will fall predominantly on the backs of middle-class Americans – amid an economic recession.”

“Today, Democrats made defining choices that showed the American people that their radicalism has no bounds, choosing green energy fantasies and big government socialism over the needs of American families, workers, and businesses,” Hagerty went on to say. “Democrats will amble on to their next partisan proposal, but the American people will not soon forget the economic mess they have created.”

“Despite what Senate Democrats claim about their reckless spending package, taxes will go up, prices will go up, and hard-working Americans will foot the bill,” Senator Hagerty added in a tweet.

– – –

Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.