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Memorial Day marks the start of summer, the day on the calendar when school is out, vacations begin, and families head off to seek adventure. It’s a time of joy, but this year the Biden Administration is doing its best to put a damper on the season. Here are five White House policies aimed at summer fun.
1. Airlines
Anyone who has spent time at an airport recently knows the woes of domestic travel all too well: delays, cancellations, long lines, sold-out flights — all too common, and none of it fun. Sensing its influence in the vote, the Biden administration became fixated on so-called “junk fees,” issuing comprehensive regulations through the Department of Transportation (DOT) but quickly faced legal challenges and thwarted private sector efforts to solve the problem.
when JetBlue American Airlines’ attempt to acquire Spirit Airlines to expand service was sued by the Biden Administration’s Department of Justice, as was a case last year with JetBlue’s proposed merger with American Airlines. The immediate result was that JetBlue was forced to suspend operations and more cities saw reduced service. Just remember that next time you might not be able to fly direct or you might have to pay a higher price.
Spirit Airlines considers restructuring options after JetBlue deal collapses
2. Gasoline prices
Things aren’t much better for those more adventurous on the highway: the average price of a gallon of gas is $3.60, up 50 percent from the $2.40 it cost when Donald Trump left office. The administration, aware of the political peril (notice a pattern?), is releasing significant strategic reserves to flood the market in an effort to maximize its impact on gas prices.
From day one, the Biden administration has been putting its foot down the throats of domestic energy producers, driving up prices to appease the administration’s environmental wing. If you’re one of the lucky ones who can fill up your tank, don’t get used to it. The administration is going after your car, implementing sweeping tailpipe emissions regulations to force consumers to buy the electric vehicles that the free market rejects.
3. Technology
Don’t get too used to Google Maps when you’re in your car looking for directions. Last fall, the Biden administration’s Justice Department filed an antiquated lawsuit against the California-based company centered on Google’s popular products, including search. The outcome is expected later this year and could lead to fewer choices and higher prices for consumers.
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4. Food Prices
If you get hungry on the drive, prepare to pay more: A Big Mac now costs $7.49, up 88% from $3.99 at the end of 2019. California recently raised its minimum wage to $20 at fast-food restaurants, leading to job losses and higher prices; a federal standard may not be far off. Biden has offered little in the way of relief, and is working with union bosses to pass regulations called joint employers, a concession to unions that would completely cripple the franchise model.
Meanwhile, Biden’s Federal Trade Commission Chairperson Lina Khanblocked a proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons that would have made groceries more accessible to more consumers.
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5. Delivery
Having come this far and faced with these obstacles, you might be forgiven for deciding to “staycation.” But no, the Biden administration is taking aim at some of the nation’s most successful delivery companies, again tied to so-called “junk fees,” in an effort to deflect endless inflationary pressures from overspending.
The Department of Labor (DOL) is trying to undermine Amazon’s business model by undermining the independent contractor model that allows companies to leverage delivery drivers to make a little extra money on their own schedule, while the FTC is suing Amazon in a separate lawsuit that could spell the end of the popular delivery company and the fast delivery and small business ecosystem it provides.
The Biden economy has pushed consumer confidence to a six-month low, but we’ve made it through tough times before and we will do so again. Get outside and enjoy the summer. And remember, despite the Biden Administration’s best efforts, American innovation knows no bounds.
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