Senator Moreno Critiques Democrats Over Ratepayer Protection Act
On Thursday, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) voiced strong criticism toward Democrats, alleging they are willing to jeopardize the country simply to maintain political power. He specifically pointed out their obstruction of a Republican-backed bill designed to shield Americans from rising electricity costs tied to AI data centers.
During a discussion at a Breitbart News roundtable, Moreno highlighted how Democrats blocked the Ratepayer Protection Act, introduced by Senator Jon Husted (R-OH), ahead of the midterm elections. The Democrats’ filibuster led to a 57-43 procedural vote, falling short of the 60 votes necessary to proceed with debate. This was despite the bill receiving overwhelming bipartisan support in the House, where it passed 417-3.
Moreno expressed frustration over the situation, suggesting it was a calculated move to tarnish the Republican image. “This was a dirty trick to make Republicans look bad,” he said. He elaborated on Husted’s efforts in the House and the general expectation that the bill would easily pass in the Senate. However, when Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) objected, claiming the bill didn’t go far enough, Moreno proposed a compromise approach. He recalled thinking, “Let’s do both,” allowing for progress while also considering Heinrich’s proposal.
Moreno noted that the obstruction was due to a single Democrat’s objection, leading to a missed opportunity for a roll call vote that could have highlighted the Democrats’ stance. He emphasized that the Democrats didn’t actually vote against the bill itself, but rather against ending debate on its consideration. He accused them of being unwilling to even discuss a solution aimed at lowering electricity costs.
Only four Democrats chose to support the bill: Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA).
Moreno criticized left-leaning media for failing to report on this issue fairly, instead echoing Democratic justifications for opposing the bill before election recess. He asserted that if Americans had access to more accurate information, Republican support would soar. “Most Americans love this country…but most Americans don’t have the ability to have the information that you guys provide your listeners,” he stated, lamenting the media’s focus on sensational topics instead of significant legislative matters.
He called the assertion that the bill was a “fraud” absurd, especially given its overwhelming support in the House. Moreno pointed out a key difference between Republicans and Democrats, claiming, “Republicans will never do anything to hurt this country,” while accusing Democrats of prioritizing political gain over national interests.
Concluding his remarks, he expressed a willingness to support beneficial legislation regardless of its authorship, contrasting it with the Democrats’ approach, which he described as politically driven and disheartening. Moreno further explained the essence of the Ratepayer Protection Act, which aligns with a commitment established during the Trump administration, stipulating that data centers must produce their own power to prevent local electricity price increases. He noted how this straightforward measure could have been enacted a week prior if not for Democratic resistance.
