Senator Casey: “I Hear About This Everywhere I Go […] People Want Us to Take Action to Figure Out Ways to Lower Their Costs”
PENNSYLVANIA – Senator Bob Casey highlighted his fight to lower costs for Pennsylvania families by taking on greedy corporations, cracking down on shrinkflation and greedflation, and making families’ lives more affordable in an interview on MSNBC with Katy Tur.
Senator Casey: I think the reason why people are so energized is because they know a lot is at stake. They know that voting rights and womens’ rights and workers’ rights are on the ballot like never before – at least in my lifetime. I’ve never seen these rights both so undermined and often threatened, but also the prospect for restoration of those rights or strengthening of those rights is motivating a lot of people.
Katy Tur: What is the issue that Pennsylvania is going to be voting on? Is there one that is more top of mind than others?
Senator Casey: The debates about rights are going to be part of that, but I think if I had to pick two words: lower costs. Meaning that they want to hear from both sides – and they’re hearing a lot from me – about how we can get costs down. Part of that is helping families afford, not simply the price of groceries that have skyrocketed and the price of household items – that is why I have been battling greedflation – but also the cost of childcare [and] the cost of housing. Just basic costs in peoples’ lives. The good news is there’s a big difference between me and my opponent. I have already voted for the great enhancement of the child tax credit, which lowered costs for families that have children. I have already voted in favor of the capping of insulin costs at $35 bucks a month for seniors. My opponent is opposed to all of that. My opponent, McCormick, wants to repeal the law that capped insulin at $35 bucks and his party has done nothing to advance a generous version of the child tax credit. That is one of the reasons why I think we will be able to point out those distinctions and win.
Senator Casey: I think on this issue of greedflation and price gouging, I hear about this everywhere I go. I just happen to be one of the leaders on the price gouging bill in the Senate. […] People want us to take action. They don’t want us to just surrender to it and say, well there’s nothing we can do about prices skyrocketing. […]People want us to take action to figure out ways to lower their costs.
Senator Casey has been leading the fight against greedflation and corporate greed:
Starting last fall, Senator Casey released a series of reports on corporate greed and greedflation.
Senator Casey’s leadership has inspired others to take on the fight against greedflation:
President Biden has credited Senator Casey for inspiring his greedflation push, which led to the President to spotlight the issue during the State of the Union.
Politico: “Biden, however, likes the “greedflation” and “shrinkflation” arguments, an interest sparked most recently conversations with Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) during a January trip to Allentown, Pennsylvania.”
Politico Reporter Meredith Lee Hill: “How Biden came to embrace ‘shrinkflation’ attacks: Rising economic concerns, high food prices + ‘fewer’ chips for the price and chats with Sen. Bob Casey.”
Politico: “Grocery price gouging to feature prominently in Harris economic plan”
“Harris’ call for a federal ban on price gouging mirrors legislation from Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and vulnerable incumbents Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), among others.”
“It’s a winning message for Democrats,” said April Verrett, the president of the Service Employees International Union, which is knocking on doors in battleground states as part of a $200 million voter-turnout operation. “And clearly Bob Casey, who’s doing better in the polls than the president, is proving that it’s the winning message.”
Mr. Casey cut a campaign ad showing corporate executives in suits sneaking into a grocery store under cover of night and switching out cereal boxes for smaller replacements.
Few Democrats have done more to push the message that corporations are driving inflation than Mr. Casey, who is running for re-election in Pennsylvania and introduced a Senate bill that would crack down on “shrinkflation” — a term for companies reducing the size of their goods but not cutting prices. Mr. Biden praised that legislation during his State of the Union address.
Christine Romans on NBC’s TODAY Show: “From cereal to chips to detergent, so-called ‘shrinkflation’ may be squeezing down your favorite snack or takeout order, and your wallet. […]A December report from Senator Bob Casey’s office found shrinkflation most common in paper products and snacks.”
New York Times: Dealbook: “Look for more shrinkflation talk this year. Senator Casey, who has been focusing on consumers’ diminished purchasing power (and is running for re-election), has spoken with consumer-product trade associations about their members’ pricing strategies and packaging practices. He’s calling for legislation to address what he sees as a deceptive practice.”
