Kudlow: No Fracking, Free Health Insurance for Illegal Immigrants, and $10 Gas. Is That 'Affordability'?
The Fox Business host argues Democratic Senate hopefuls' energy and health care plans cost far more than they admit. His figures come from the Council of Economic Advisers and his own estimate.
This is a summary of commentary. The views below are Larry Kudlow's, not RightNewsRightNow's. The piece ran Oct. 16, so it is older than most of today's stories.
Kudlow opens with a point about the other side's press: even the New York Times, he says, is worried that a Democratic "blue wave" may not pan out, noting its headline that a few Senate races in bluer states "aren't slam dunks." He says the Times left out some candidates, including James Talarico in Texas, whom he describes as opposed to oil and gas drilling.
Alaska. He says former Rep. Mary Peltola read answers from index cards in a debate with Sen. Dan Sullivan, and that Sullivan won "on the merits." He argues Peltola opposes fossil fuels, "the Alaskan cash crop," and cites a Wall Street Journal column by Kim Strassel headlined "Alaska Considers Economic Suicide." He lists Biden-era bans on oil and gas leases, mining, timber and new roads.
Health care. Kudlow says about 160 million Americans have employer coverage and would lose it under "Medicare for All." He says the Council of Economic Advisers estimates the cost at roughly $50 trillion over 10 years. He adds that candidates such as Abdul El-Sayed want free health care for illegal immigrants plus access to SNAP, housing aid and Medicaid, which he puts at "at least another trillion dollars by my lights."
His conclusion: "Affordability means about $10 a gallon for gas. And probably ending gas powered cars. And more than $50 trillion for illegals and state run healthcare. Affordability? You must be kidding."
Check before you repeat these numbers. The $10 gas figure and the trillion-dollar estimate are Kudlow's own, and the $50 trillion figure is attributed to a White House advisory body, not independent analysis. We have not verified them. Democrats' own plans would need to be checked against what candidates actually propose.