FACT CHECK: DEBUNKING CONGRESSMAN DON BACON’S MISLEADING INFLATION REDUCTION ACT CLAIMS
OMAHA, Nebraska (July 19, 2024)—Today, Nebraska For Us is calling attention to a wide-ranging series of claims from Congressman Don Bacon that misrepresent key provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act—signed into law in August 2022. Congressman Bacon voted against this legislation.
“As an organization focusing specifically on economic policies that support working class and middle income Nebraskans, the least we expect from our representatives is complete honesty on what major policies actually do for our neighbors and friends,” Nebraska For Us State Director Angie Lauritsen said. “As we get set to mark two years since President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, we will be ready to correct the record if Don Bacon continues to spread inaccurate information about the law.”
Congressman Bacon has suggested that the Inflation Reduction Act is cutting Medicare by hundreds of billions of dollars. In reality, the figures he uses reflect the savings from the law’s drug pricing provisions, including the Medicare drug price negotiation program, that will reduce the deficit. Allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices will save seniors money on drug costs—a lifeline for those living on fixed incomes.
Congressman Bacon has echoed incorrect claims about the law’s funding for the IRS and how that money is being used. To set the record straight, the increased funding is primarily supporting enforcement efforts geared toward millionaire tax cheats who have more than $250,000 in tax debt and big businesses. The IRS is also hiring some new employees to combat growing staff retirements and to improve customer service. You can read more in our July 11 statement here.
As Nebraska For Us pointed out earlier this month, Congressman Bacon continues to inaccurately take credit for lowering the cost of insulin for Medicare recipients. That is false. The Inflation Reduction Act is the legislation responsible for lowering insulin costs to $35 per month for seniors, and he voted against that law.
Nebraska For Us continues to urge Congressman Bacon to oppose H.R. 812—a bill that would increase drug prices by repealing the Inflation Reduction Act.
Nebraska For Us is a coalition of concerned Nebraskans focused on economic issues that affect working class families such as tax fairness, jobs, housing, the cost of living, inflation, and many more. We seek to reach residents of Congressional District 2 through a range of community events and initiatives. For more information and updates about our work, visit nebraskaforus.org.
