An ex-executive at CKE Restaurants also commented on the recent jobs numbers that were missing Labor Dept’s expectations
Andrew Puzder, former CEO of CKE Restaurants, said that the Biden administration is following a costly and misguided energy policy amid high inflation.
Martha MacCallum, host of “The Story,” spoke to Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, during Friday’s interview. Jen was responding to a reporter’s question about Biden’s new reliance upon OPEC while his administration blocks U.S. oil production.
Psaki stated that part of the oil problem is due to the Gulf Coast’s effects of Hurricane Ida. He also said that short-term supply issues must be considered alongside the long-term climate impact. It is crucial to focus now more on renewable energy production.
Puzder, whose ex-company is the parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, responded that the White House’s increased reliance upon OPEC was counterintuitive given the fact that oil exploration in the Middle East can have environmental impacts as well as domestic speculation.
“How does it help to prevent carbon emissions if we use OPEC and Russia’s oil rather than our oil? Puzder questioned.
It doesn’t make sense. He said that if you use oil, the same carbon emissions occur,” and added that U.S. production has fallen 15% since “prepandemic.”
He stated that if we need oil to maintain prices down, which we do, inflation is raging. Part of this is because of energy prices.
Puzder stated that it was best to keep prices down by continuing the Trump-era support for domestic production on federal lands. He also suggested that we return to the Keystone Pipeline between Alberta, Canada, and Port Arthur Texas. This project was cancelled by Biden his first day in office.
“Stop asking Russia and Saudi Arabia for oil. It makes us pay more to fuel our cars.”
Puzder commented on “The Story” about the recent jobs numbers. The actual figures were more than 300,000.
MacCallum reported that the number was about 194,000, which is significantly less than the projected 500,000. This occurred amid a labor market with high unemployment and high job openings.
Puzder said to MacCallum, that this scenario is an economic puzzle that is unique.
“The problem is that we don’t have a shortage of jobs as your numbers indicated at the start of the program. There are almost 11 million job opportunities and 7.7 millions people who are unemployed. He said that the problem isn’t a lack of jobs. It’s a shortage in workers.”
“So, if the programs that [the administration] proposes are government spending to create job opportunities, then we don’t have to create new jobs. There are enough jobs. You’re also spending money on discouraging people to work by offering benefits to those who don’t work. This is actually harming the economy and increasing the problem of not enough workers,” Puzder said. He expressed concern that the White House hasn’t yet “come to terms” with the real problems facing the economy.
