US Sen. Merkley Questions: Grocery Inflation, Housing and Working with Trump
US Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-OR, at The Dalles High School on Saturday, April 27.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., April 27, 2024 — Jeff Merkley said the high cost of groceries could not be blamed solely on inflation as prices have skyrocketed 23.1 percent since 2020 according to the USDA.
The US Senator said price gouging was also part of the problem as he swung through Wasco County on Saturday, April 27.
“They’ve really pumped up the profit margin,” he said. “That’s why we need competition.”
Merkley, D-OR, made the comments prior to a town hall meeting at The Dalles High School at 1:30 p.m.
He said he was in favor of the Federal Trade Commission's attempt to block the largest proposed supermarket merger in U.S. history—Kroger Company’s $24.6 billion acquisition of the Albertsons Companies, Inc.—alleging that the deal is anti-competitive.
In The Dalles, Kroger owns Fred Meyer and if the acquisition to purchase Albertsons Companies is approved, it would end up owning Safeway as well.
Grocery Outlet would be the only grocery store of size that would provide real competition for Kroger which currently has more than 2,700 stores nationwide.
More on Inflation
On broader inflation, Merkley said there were still inflation drivers at work with the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Congress recently passed a $95-billion bill to fund war and some humanitarian efforts in both and President Biden has signed it.
Cost of Housing
Costs for Housing are also of major concern, he noted.
“The biggest wealth builder for the middle class is dying,” he said regarding homeownership.
He said he was behind debt reduction for college students and increasing 3 percent down loan programs for first-time homebuyers. He said the size of housing had to change as well - making smaller homes in the 1,200 square foot range still profitable to build and sell through federal funding, and state, city and county programs.
Merkley also introduced a new, strengthened version of his End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act, according to his staff.
“This bill would kick hedge funds to the curb when it comes to owning single-family houses, so ordinary families have a fighting face to become homeowners and build the equity that built the middle class. This is a critical piece of addressing the rising affordable housing crisis in Oregon and around the nation.”
If Former President Trump Is Elected how will you work with the new administration?
Merkley, who was first elected in 2009, said he would continue to work with Republicans in the Senate on bills as he has before.
“I would continue that rhythm,” he said noting he has built consensus with Republican partners on education and housing bills.
Regarding the possibility of working with Trump and his administration, Merkley had no words about cooperation.
Rather, he said Trump, by his own words, will be an authoritarian and currently is pressing the Supreme Court of the United States for a ruling that would give him Immunity for crimes committed while serving as President and a private citizen.
“It’s bizarre,” he said, pointing out that some Supreme Court Justices believe that the constitutional text ought to be given the original public meaning that it would have had at the time that it became law. He said the Justices were failing to understand the writers of the Consitution wrote much of it to prevent a monarchy.
“They did not want a king,” he said. “The president should be bound by the laws of the country.”
Much of the Supreme Court hearing focused on whether there should be a distinction between official acts by Trump pursuant to his presidential duties and his private conduct.
From Merkley: Funding for over 475 community-initiated projects throughout Oregon over the past three fiscal years.
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