00:00Are we at war currently?
00:02Every year under the Biden administration.
00:04Are we at war currently?
00:07The conflict has been halted.
00:11The conflict has been halted.
00:14So we're not at war.
00:16So our military is not involved, we're not at war.
00:19Again, if you would like for me to call the Secretary of War, I can ask.
00:24Thank you, and thank you, Secretary, for joining us here today.
00:27It's always kind of unusual when you start a hearing
00:32and are instructed what you can say or can't say in an open and free democracy.
00:39But having said that, you mentioned in your testimony core inflation a couple of times.
00:50What's the difference between core inflation and inflation?
00:58Many people believe or it is in general energy prices and food prices, which are much more fast moving.
01:09And I would say that energy prices will roll down when this Iran conflict ends.
01:14So is gasoline considered part of core inflation?
01:21Yes, sir.
01:22It is. So those remarks, core inflation reflects gasoline prices.
01:28Core inflation reflects the underlying trend in inflation
01:33and whether inflation has become endemic to the system as it did during President Biden's work.
01:41Has the war in Iran had anything to do with core inflation?
01:47Sir?
01:49Does the war in Iran have anything to do with core inflation?
01:55You can't answer that either?
01:57Or are we precluded from asking that?
02:01Well, I'm not sure what the question is.
02:04Let me make it as simple as I can.
02:07Does the war in Iran, are you with me?
02:10Does the war in Iran have witnessed the rise in gas prices as it caused?
02:20Well, again, that is the regular inflation and gas prices have gone up, which I believe will be temporary.
02:28So gas prices have gone up, but you believe they're temporary.
02:33Core inflation has dropped 0.5% since President Trump came to office.
02:38Geez, you know, when I'm home in my district, I'm going to just tell those people,
02:41geez, you know what, you've missed this whole thing.
02:44Don't you understand core inflation?
02:46You guys are better off.
02:48I mean, these gas prices, I don't know what you people are thinking out there.
02:52For God's sake, you know, they're just, you should be doing cartwheels in the street over the price of gas.
02:58So what is the administration's plan to lower gas prices?
03:02We've taken the many...
03:04Are you in favor of eliminating the gas tax?
03:07We have moved to...
03:09Are you in favor of eliminating the gas tax?
03:12We would like to work with...
03:12Are you able to answer that, or is that not...
03:15Well, if I'm not interrupted, I can, Congressman.
03:17Well, I'm waiting for your answer.
03:19We have moved, we have asked Congress to move to eliminate the gas tax.
03:23That is done through statute.
03:26You have moved that.
03:28So you're in favor of eliminating the gas tax?
03:30We have asked for that.
03:31So we can join bipartisanly today because you're in favor of it to eliminate the gas tax.
03:37Again, the White House has asked for it, sir.
03:40They have?
03:42Why isn't it before the committee for a vote?
03:45I don't run the agenda.
03:49Well, it's good to hear that we're in favor of something that we can work on bipartisanly
03:55that will help relieve people who need it the most.
04:01Forgive me, but people in my district aren't doing cartwheels over this economy.
04:06They haven't seen the impact that you claim that they're all receiving.
04:12People hear a lot of rhetoric, etc., but that doesn't pay their grocery bills.
04:18That doesn't pay their heating costs.
04:20That doesn't put fuel in their tanks.
04:24That doesn't help them get through the day-to-day grind of their lives.
04:29And so coming here and filling us with platitude and telling us how great we should be to the Trump
04:35administration for everything that it's done.
04:41Congressman.
04:41Is this war responsible for any of this?
04:44Congressman, food at home is up 2.5% since President Trump took office.
04:49Are we at war currently?
04:50Which is twice.
04:52Are we at war currently?
04:53It's up twice that much every year under the Biden administration.
04:56Are we at war currently?
04:59That the conflict has been halted.
05:03The conflict has been halted.
05:06So we're not at war.
05:08Special military.
05:08So our military is not involved.
05:10We're not at war.
05:11Again, if you would like for me to call the Secretary of War, I can ask.
05:16I'm the Secretary of the Treasury.
05:17So as part of the administration, and as part of this, we're not at war.
05:22How in God's name, if we can't answer any questions at all, and I don't know, maybe there are special
05:29orders where we're not allowed to these questions.
05:32We ought to make that clear.
05:34Are we at war or not?
05:35I'm asking as relation to the cost of going up for oil and gas.
05:42That hasn't risen.
05:42Has it risen because of the war?
05:44It did rise because of the conflict.
05:47Yes, sir.
05:48The conflict.
05:50So that's what we call it.
05:52Our people go into battle and lose their lives.
05:55Mr. Larson, your time has expired.
