House Republicans blame Democrats for higher Chipotle burrito prices

House Republicans are blaming Democrats for the rise in Chipotle burrito prices. 

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) issued a statement on Wednesday pointing to Chipotle’s recent announcement they would raise prices on their menu products by about 4 percent – and blaming Democrats. 

“Democrats’ socialist stimulus bill caused a labor shortage and now burrito lovers everywhere are footing the bill,” NRCC spokesperson Mike Berg said in the statement. 

Chipotle announced on Wednesday that they will raise prices on menu to about 4 percent after saying in May it would raise employees wages to an average of $15 an hour, or a range of $11 to $18.

Chipotle is just one of several companies to raise wages or implement other measures to attract more workers amid reports of staff shortages as businesses start to reopen following the pandemic-induced economic downturn. 

Republicans have blamed enhanced unemployment benefits – included first in the Trump administration’s coronavirus relief bills, then extended under President Biden – for labor shortages that they say have forced increased wages and squeezed small businesses, though Democrats and some economists point to other factors including lack of child care and health fears.