Heinrich: “fighting to raise wages and lower costs” … Reality: real wages are down, costs for everything are up
JUNE 18, ALBUQUERQUE, NM—On Tuesday, Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich released his first ad of the campaign loaded with a series of misleading and false claims. Worse, Heinrich acts like he doesn’t have a voting record that created the economic woes he gripes about in the ad. Biden and Heinrich passed trillions in wasteful spending, which economists across the political spectrum warned would fuel inflation and raise costs for American families. Heinrich’s votes for the nearly $2 trillion spending bill in 2021 and the “Inflation Reduction Act” in 2022 made inflation worse, resulting in higher prices for New Mexico families.
Let’s take a look at what Heinrich said in the new ad vs. the realities facing New Mexicans…
Heinrich vs. the Reality Facing New Mexicans
HEINRICH: “If you are putting in the work, you deserve to have something to show for it. To be able to provide – to save – to get ahead. That is why I’m fighting to raise wages…”
REALITY: Prices have risen 20.1 percent since 2021 when Biden and Heinrich took control of the Whote House and the Senate.
Inflation has outpaced wages for most of Biden’s presidency, with real average weekly earnings going negative for 25 months.
Real wages remain lower than when Biden first took office: Inflation-adjusted average weekly earnings were $397.90 when Biden took office and are now $382.28 – the BLS adjusts to 1982-1984 dollars – meaning Americans have seen a 3.9 percent pay cut under Biden and Heinrich.
HEINRICH: “… and to lower costs for energy, groceries, and prescription drugs.”
REALITY: Costs for all of those are up since Biden and Heinrich took control.
Groceries are up 21.2 percent
Energy prices have soared almost 30 percent under Biden, 13 times faster than the previous seven years.
Gas is up more than $1 per gallon since Biden became president.
Bottomline: Heinrich’s policies are to blame for falling real wages and higher prices.
“Senator Heinrich’s new ad is a last-ditch election year attempt at gaslighting New Mexicans, after consistently voting to make life more expensive for hard-working families,” said Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce. “New Mexicans won’t be fooled by an ad suggesting Democrats are lowering prices, when it now costs double every time they buy groceries or pay their bills. Across the state, families are struggling to get ahead, and Senator Heinrich’s radical and out-of-touch agenda is to blame. New Mexicans will be looking to fiscally responsible Republicans like Nella Domenici, who genuinely care about their struggles, to lead our state and economy back in the right direction.”
