Pension Bailout or Political Ploy? Republicans Cry Foul Over White House's $5.7 Billion Teamsters Fund Infusion

In a move that has sparked outrage among New Hampshire Republicans, the White House has announced a $5.7 billion cash infusion to the New England Teamsters pension fund, drawing accusations of a blatantly political maneuver in an election year. Candidates for Congress have condemned the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, calling it a bailout targeted at key states and a concerning lack of accountability from the government.

Fueling Partisan Tensions Ahead of Midterms

Accusations of Vote-Buying and Fiscal Irresponsibility

Candidate Joe Kelly Levasseur minced no words in his criticism of the White House's actions, stating, "There seems to be no accountability whatsoever with this government, and they're not shy about it and they don't apologize for it. And they will go out and buy votes everywhere they can." Levasseur's concerns extend beyond the perceived political motivations, as he highlighted the growing national debt, which recently reached the $35 trillion mark. "What really concerns me is that we hit the $35 trillion mark yesterday in debt," he said, underscoring the fiscal implications of such large-scale government spending.

Timing and Targeting of the Funds

Candidate Chris Bright echoed Levasseur's sentiments, arguing that the White House is deploying the funding now for maximum political advantage. "Three months before the election, $5 billion comes in," he said, suggesting that the timing of the announcement is a calculated move to sway voters. Bright also acknowledged the potential impact on working-class voters, noting that Democrats are aware of their waning support among this demographic, which has been increasingly drawn to the Republican party.

Distinguishing Union Leadership from Rank-and-File Members

While Bright was critical of the White House's actions, he cautioned against pointing the finger at the local union members who stand to benefit from the pension fund infusion. "I kind of almost have to break this into two parts: the union leadership and the rank-and-file, the hard-working Americans, and they've just been fed a bill of goods," he said, suggesting that the union leadership may have played a role in securing the funding, while the rank-and-file members are simply the recipients of the government's largesse.

Inflation Concerns and the ARPA's Impact

The Republican candidates' criticisms extend beyond the perceived political motivations, as they also raise concerns about the inflationary impact of the ARPA funds. Greg Moore, of the conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity, cited studies that suggest the ARPA itself may have contributed to a 3-4% increase in inflation during 2022. "And so, real Americans were hurt. People here in the Granite State were hurt by it, by high inflation," he said, underscoring the broader economic consequences of the government's spending decisions.

A Potential Rallying Cry for Republican Challengers

The Republican candidates in New Hampshire's 1st District, including Russell Prescott and Hollie Noveletsky, have all released statements condemning the White House's actions, accusing the Democrats of rewarding a key constituency and exacerbating the rising cost of living. While the inflation argument may not have resonated with voters in the district two years ago, conservative activists believe that the massive spending items, such as the Teamsters pension fund bailout, could provide a powerful rallying cry for this year's Republican challengers, including their bid to unseat incumbent Democratic Congressman Chris Pappas.