Reacting to the latest reading of the Consumer Price Index—inflation up 8.5 percent year-to-year—Manchin noted it is the largest 12-month increase in four decades, and he called out Democrats who are pretending this is all because of Putin:

"It is a disservice to the American people to act as if inflation is a new phenomenon," Manchin said. "The Federal Reserve and the Administration failed to act fast enough, and today's data is a snapshot in time of the consequences being felt across the country.

"Instead of acting boldly, our elected leaders and the Federal Reserve continue to respond with half-measures and rhetorical failures, searching for where to lay the blame. The American people deserve the truth about why record inflation is happening and what must be done to control it."

On the same day Manchin issued his statement calling inflation "a tax," ... Joe Biden was in Iowa, telling ethanol producers and farmers it's Putin's fault:

"Putin's invasion of Ukraine has driven up gas prices and food prices all over the world," Biden said.

"The two-est [sic] largest grain producers in the world, China and—excuse me—Ukraine and Russia, are not [doing] what they usually do, so everything is going up.

"We saw it in today's inflation data: Seventy percent of the increase in prices in March came from Putin's price hike in gasoline.

"We need to address this challenge with an urgency that it demands. That's why I've called on Congress to move immediately to lower the cost of families' utility bills, prescription drug bills, and more, while lowering the deficit to reduce inflationary pressures..."

Manchin points to energy policy

"Let me be clear, inflation is a tax, and today's historic inflation data tells another chilling story about how these taxes on Americans are completely out of control," Manchin said in his statement.

"Hard earned wages and financial savings are disappearing faster every month as prices continue to climb, while the pain and frustration of spending more on everyday items lingers over us all, especially among those who can afford it the least. (Screengrab image)

"Americans are seeing some of the largest increases in goods such as gas up 48%, beef up 16%, chicken and milk up 13%, and staples like coffee and eggs are up 11%.

"When will this end?" Manchin asked:

"It is a disservice to the American people to act as if inflation is a new phenomenon. The Federal Reserve and the Administration failed to act fast enough, and today's data is a snapshot in time of the consequences being felt across the country.

"Instead of acting boldly, our elected leaders and the Federal Reserve continue to respond with half-measures and rhetorical failures searching for where to lay the blame. The American people deserve the truth about why record inflation is happening and what must be done to control it.

"Here is the truth, we cannot spend our way to a balanced, healthy economy and continue adding to our $30 trillion national debt. Getting inflation under control will require more aggressive action by a Federal Reserve that waited too long to act.

"It demands the Administration and Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike, support an all-the-above energy policy because that is the only way to bring down the high price of gas and energy while attacking climate change.

"The United States of America is equipped to be energy independent from Russia and other terror-sponsoring countries while also working to fight global climate change and break our dependence on the critical mineral supply change from China.

"The inflation number today is only the beginning unless we take immediate action to address the pain being felt across our nation. This is one problem facing the American people that one political party alone cannot fix. The American people cannot wait any longer." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

America 250: Freedom Trucks Travel across US Celebrating American History

Lowest Gas Prices Are in States with Republican Governors, Legislatures: Report

MLB's Texas Rangers Shun 'Pride Night,' Host 'Faith and Family Night' Instead

Resolution to Preserve Daughters of the American Revolution for Women Only Is Defeated

Texas Institutes Bible Passages into Its Public School Reading List

US, Iran Skirmish Following Tehran's Ceasefire Violations; Israel, Lebanon Sign 'Historic Accomplishment'

Supreme Court Deals Massive Blow to the Deep State, Reversing 90-Year Precedent in Humphrey's Executor

Justice Alito Torches SCOTUS Ruling in Mail-in Ballot Case, Warns of Voter Fraud

SCOTUS Rules 5-4 to Permit Counting of Mail-In Ballots that Arrive AFTER Election Day

Breitbart's AMERICAN SOUNDTRACK: Firebrand Mary Kutter's Poignant Birthday Tribute; 'Through All the Hell and Glory Days You Stand Here With Amazing Grace'

America's Semiquincentennial Begins: Trump Launches Massive National Mall Expo

Woman Removed from Detroit Tigers Game for Wearing 'Jesus Over Pride' Shirt

Netherlands Does the Unthinkable: Euthanize a Young Child

European Country Moves to Ban Islamic Call to Prayer (Video)

Charlie Kirk Judge Denies Tyler Robinson's Attempt to Have Potential Death Penalty Removed

The Reflecting Pool Vandalism Trump Wasn't Supposed to Be Right About

'I Think It Was God': Ex-Mets Pitcher Jenrry Mejia Narrowly Escapes Death as Venezuela Earthquake Strikes Hotel

Venezuelans Comb Quake Rubble in Search for Survivors: 'There Are Still People Alive in There'

The Undercroft: The New Museum Located Underneath the Lincoln Memorial Opens in Time for America's 250th Birthday (Video)

Samaritan's Purse Sending Help to Venezuela after Devastating Earthquakes