Joco Today

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) appeared on KCMO Radio’s "Mundo in the Morning" to discuss several current issues facing Congress and the nation, including Senate productivity, government funding, trade policy, agriculture, and recent economic data.

Marshall commented on the pace of legislative work in the Senate despite what he described as Democratic obstruction. “Pete, it’s inside game, it’s extortion. I want to emphasize that, despite Chuck Schumer’s obstruction, and that’s his number one goal here, is to slow us down. Despite that, we’ve had one of the most successful first six months of a president ever. We’ve passed nine major pieces of legislation. Think the Halt Fentanyl Act, the Genius Act, of course, the One Big, Beautiful Bill. We repealed 16 of Joe Biden’s major rules, rules as well, and then still got 150 nominees across the finish line. But what Chuck Schumer has done is slow down the process. Typically, by now, 70% of the President’s nominees are confirmed through a short process, a short pass called unanimous consent. President Trump’s had zero; most of the President’s 90% of so everyone comes through committee, the person that comes through committee with unanimous approval, typically, those get fast tracked through the Senate, but Chuck Schumer is making us spend two hours at a minimum on every one of those.”

He addressed delays in confirming presidential nominations: “Here’s the deal, I’m okay with working long hours. We did. We’ve done over 500 votes, a record number of days in session. We work late, we stay, but it takes our eye off the ball. We should be working on balancing the budget right now. Pete, that’s the problem... The whole emphasis here, Chuck Schumer is jamming us... Because AOC is going to primary him because his left is running the party now.”

Regarding government funding deadlines approaching at fiscal year-end on September 30th: “So if we don’t get it done by then [September 30], the government would shut down... If we do [shut down], it’s on the backs of Schumer because he wants it to have happen... If we can’t get these bills through then we’ll do a continuing resolution to fund the government at current.”

Marshall also spoke about health care costs and nutrition initiatives under what he referred to as “the MAHA movement.” He highlighted consumer-driven efforts for healthier eating and agricultural practices: “That’s a good question... It’s people; it’s consumers out there driving it... The problem driving up cost of health care among other things is utilization... So 90% of our dollars are spent on chronic diseases like heart disease... The way to address them is through eating healthier foods.... Trying to work with my farmers here to how do we get more regenerative agriculture where we’re growing more with less....”

On Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits reform within farm bill negotiations: “So our bill that we’ll get on farm bill is to say that stamp dollars not be used for sugary sodas.... And we’re trying to reward healthy choices though so we're going try double up on snap box if you make healthy choices.... Hy-Vee is out there leading charge here in Kansas City.... When you take your SNAP dollars in and you pay for that particular product they give you credit for another amount SNAP coupons.”

Marshall reported strong support among Kansans for work requirements tied to Medicaid and SNAP benefits: “We’ve done four telephone town halls... But we'll have 5-000 Kansans...70-80% support work requirements.... They’re very reasonable—20 hours a week is all we're asking....”

Turning toward trade deals under former President Trump: “We’ve made incredible progress Pete.... We've done seven of major ten trade partners right now; seven out ten are done.... With China we have until August 12.... So he's got UK done and EU done but then look at South Pacific brim—Cambodia Thailand Vietnam Indonesia Philippines South Korea Japan Australia—so he has boxed China in here.”

He added perspective about American agriculture's recovery following changes in trade policy and interest rates: “Oh I'm absolutely bullish… Under Joe Biden we had record drop net farm income…. Get interest rates come down because economy growing…. Lots manufacturing jobs coming back Kansas… They can't keep up orders… Only challenge—we don't have enough employees for jobs…”

Commenting on recent federal jobs data releases Marshall said: “Look I think we were all surprised at job report…. These jobs—I don't like way report them—they include government jobs as well part-time jobs… What I'm seeing now—with no tax overtime from One Big Beautiful Bill—is these manufacturing companies are have people willing stay work longer… Net income going up right now… People's income going up faster than inflation… Gas prices stable Grocery prices stable…”

Finally Marshall outlined plans for local visits focused on education institutions around Topeka area: “I'll start out Johnson County Community College…. My wife graduated community college everything I did professionally I owe education… Then new president JOCO so want go say hi him… Then think there's new grade school Tomahawk grade school…. New middle school open Washburn Rural…”

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