Variety is the spice of life, they say.
From a billionaire to doctors to a teacher, you have plenty of choices when it comes to choosing your next US Senator in June elementary school.
More than 20 candidates are running for the seat vacated by Senator Alex Padilla by Vice President Kamala Harris. NBC 7 heard from incumbent Alex Padilla and attorney Mark Meuser, the Democratic-Republican-backed candidate for the US Senate vacancy in California.
Meuser, a constitutional attorney who has filed multiple lawsuits against Gov. Gavin Newsom over COVID shutdowns, responded by phone to a Santee woman’s concerns about inflation.
“Yah! Mom wants a new car,” laughed Beth Bowden.
She’s ready to replace her year-old SUV, but she’s on hold on buying a new one because of sticker shock.
“Inflation has overpriced them by $10,000,” she said.
Müser said the federal government could use a little more financial sense.
“The federal government has to start balancing its budget, as the state and companies do, and we do at home,” Meuser explained. “When the federal government spends money we don’t have, it increases the money supply, which is one of the leading factors in inflation.
Bowden isn’t alone in her concerns about the economy.
NBC News conducted a nationwide poll in the first week of May that found the cost of living and the economy to be the top two issues Americans are most concerned about.
“Is inflation real? Absolutely. I’ve seen the rate increases in so many categories, not just as a senator but as a father of three adolescent boys,” Padilla said.
“Prices are getting out of control and are not keeping up with our salaries,” said Meuser.
Meuser says Democrats are to blame for the country’s economic woes, especially as gas prices in San Diego once again approach record highs.
“Unfortunately there is only one thing we can do at the moment and that is drill. You know what, I think I saw a headline this week where Joe Biden canceled millions of acres of drilling permits,” Meuser said.
Padilla holds the corporations responsible for the skyrocketing prices at the pump.
“Oil companies are absolutely taking advantage of the situation in Ukraine to unnecessarily raise gas prices,” Padilla replied. “So we should tax them on the exorbitant profits and put that money back into the pockets of working families.”
“I don’t see a problem with that,” said Connie Collins, a Democrat and native of San Diego.
Though insulated from the costs of inflation, she worries about the impact on wages and affordable housing for the next generation.
When asked if she liked the safety net provided, she replied, “Generally. I think they’re usually better prepared for that.”
Abortion rights have come to the fore after a leaked draft opinion showed the Supreme Court was on point to overthrow Roe V Wade.
Cindy Womack, a registered Democrat and supporter of the election, said the country’s economic woes prompted her to cross the aisle.
“I think the economy was better under Republican office,” she said.
A sluggish economy could prove to be a problem for Democrats during the primary.
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