Sunflower State News

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), appeared on KCMO Radio with Pete Mundo to discuss recent developments in the Senate and issues facing Kansas and the nation.

Marshall commented on the pace of Senate confirmations under President Trump, stating that Democratic leadership has slowed the process. “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 We repealed 16 of Joe Biden’s major rules, rules as well, and then still got 150 nominees across the finish line.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 Trump administration nominees: “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, so we need to be working on balancing the budget. There’s 12 buckets to fund the government. We got three of them across the finish line before we left here. Susan Collins leads the appropriations process. She has eight of those buckets pass through committee. Let’s get those on the floor. Debate them one at a time so we don’t do a continuing resolution which is where we’re headed again. The whole emphasis here Chuck Schumer is jamming us Why is he jamming us? Because AOC is going to primary him because his left is running the party now.”

On funding for federal agencies and potential government shutdowns Marshall said: “So the federal government is [on] September 30 October 1 calendar So if we don’t get it done by then government would shut down We’re not going to let that happen If we do it’s on backs of Schumer because he wants it to have happen Don’t listen to what he’s saying He wants us to shut down government and then he’ll blame President Trump for it That would if we can’t get these bills through then we’ll do a continuing resolution to fund government at current.”

Discussing health policy and agriculture Marshall referenced consumer-driven change: “That’s a good question I think that it’s driven by consumers… It’s people… driving it And for first time I have people in White House listening to me Look if you want me to save Medicare if you want me to save Medicaid if you want me to drive down cost of health care I need America to get healthy The problem driving up cost among other things is utilization So 90% our dollars are spent on chronic diseases chronic diseases like heart disease obesity hypertension diabetes… So way address them is through eating healthier foods Throw away your ultra-processed food If it’s in box throw away Try eat fresh Frozen better than out box as well Trying work with my farmers here how do get more regenerative agriculture where growing more with less Look lots farmers now only using 40% amount fertilizers pesticides they used Decreased drift from field by 90% so going right direction Now my job Ag Committee try help fund those farmers do these major conservation practices.”

He described efforts regarding SNAP benefits: “So our bill that we’ll get on farm bill is say stamp dollars not be used for sugary sodas It’s 11% spending snap spending 11% have been on sugary sodas And trying reward healthy choices though so going try double up snap box if make healthy choices Whole milk cheese products what trying get list But fresh fruits vegetables which understand expensive so trying double up healthy choices as well So what How would go about doing that So great already have local grocery stores Hy-Vee out there leading charge here Kansas City helping us do as well But just process when all technology Now when take SNAP dollars pay particular product give credit another amount SNAP coupons.”

On work requirements for public assistance programs Marshall said: “We’ve done four telephone town halls Pete I wish could get you one those with me maybe just listen even But have 5 000 Kansans Do little polls 70–80% Kansans support work requirements And so have work requirements got passed both Medicaid SNAP They’re very reasonable 20 hours week all asking Why Democrats present this punishment Why job punishment Thought job brings dignity brings pride family as well So can if work 20 hours week volunteer go school right reasonable.”

Turning attention toward trade deals under President Trump Marshall said: “We’ve made incredible progress Pete And certainly way better off than were under Joe Biden Joe did zero trade deals right So done seven major ten trade partners right now seven ten done Ones haven’t gotten finished yet Taiwan Guess what They need us really badly India No one ever able crack nut India but need figure out They’re fastest-growing country world Their economy exploding Lots good things India but don’t value intellectual property They steal are intellectual property just like China does So need do India With China have until August 12 But think what President Trump has done box China here Got UK done EU done But look South Pacific brim Cambodia Thailand Vietnam Indonesia Philippines South Korea Japan Australia So boxed China in here What China was doing was trans-shipping Make tennis shoes China ship Vietnam then Vietnam sneaking them tariff right Well guess what Trump knows this All know will punish heck out Vietnam keep doing that So have China boxed in expect grain prices start going up fall.”

Marshall also spoke about impacts for American agriculture and manufacturing: “Oh I’m absolutely bullish Look ag sector not going survive doing what were doing Under Joe Biden had record drop net farm income So between these trade deals dropping interest rates all things could do farmers right now really small businesses drop interest rates Average Kansan farmer million-dollar operation loan saw interest rate go from two nine percent then had zero profit Literally Average Kansas farmer $70 000 year profit ate up all profit Those two focuses Get interest rates come down because economy growing Other thing seeing Pete lots manufacturing jobs Coming back Kansas tour some twelve manufacturing companies Maybe fifty maybe four hundred employees Can’t keep up orders Only challenge don’t enough employees jobs having problems getting aluminum steel but working on that.”

Regarding recent employment data Marshall expressed skepticism about official reports: “Look think all surprised at job report Don’t much confidence job reports As can imagine person did reports after election November showed great numbers Biden before election revised them down by eight hundred thousand These jobs don’t like way report them include government jobs part-time jobs You know part-time jobs great but sit there say so Joe Biden economy built government jobs part-time jobs What seeing now no tax overtime from One Big Beautiful Bill manufacturing companies people willing stay work longer don’t because don’t people hire part jobs report reflects government getting smaller think good thing well think summer job numbers always go down Good GDP growth What really proud net income going up right now People income going up faster inflation Gas prices stable Grocery prices stable think good economy going say treading water Not satisfied Got work do.”

Finally discussing upcoming events in Topeka Marshall said: “I’ll start out at Johnson County Community College I’m sure recall Pete I’m community college graduate My wife graduated community college everything did professionally owe education grateful teachers coaches great family But new president JOCO want go say hi him Then think new grade school Tomahawk grade school were yesterday Topeka new middle school open Washburn Rural kind seeing new schools Kids coming back next week Make couple other stops way well Great back metro.”