Buttigieg on Inflation Crisis: We Need a Federal Child-Care Program, and More Vaccines

EXCERPT:

BUTTIGIEG: “Well, it’s certainly the case that we are closely watching prices. I also think it’s important to point out and Moody’s has talked about this, that the president’s build back better agenda as a whole will ease some of that inflationary pressure. One of the reasons why we sometimes struggle to keep up with demand when demand is good is that you got a lot of forces that keep Americans out of the work force not the least the struggle to get good child care. So -- or the struggle to get good affordable child care I should say -- So, when you talk about some of the pro family policies in the build back better agenda, those stand to actually ease inflationary pressure. Obviously, we are glad that the American rescue plan successfully guided us in this season of job growth, of economic growth. But you're going to continue to see a lot of these challenges and imbalances, both because of long-term issues, like not investing enough in child care in this country, not investing enough in infrastructure in this country. And again these immediate issues around the pandemic, which is why honestly the best way to smooth all of this out remains getting everybody vaccinated and putting that pandemic in the rear view mirror.”