Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. House Budget Committee Ranking Member Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) and Americans impacted by higher costs joined Unrig Our Economy and Families Over Billionaires for a press call to discuss how the Republican war in Iran is driving up costs and exacerbating the affordability crisis caused by the Republican Tax Law, tariffs, and health care cuts. Nearly every Republican in Congress voted to support the Republican war in Iran that is raising the cost of gas, food, and travel.
During the call, Congressman Boyle and attendees highlighted how the war’s surge in prices is making it even harder for Americans already struggling to keep up with Republican-caused increases in the costs of health care, utilities, and food.
“What we’ve spent on this war already in less than a month is believed to be somewhere around $27 billion – that’s exactly how much it costs to fully fund the Obamacare tax credits for one year,” said Congressman Brendan Boyle. “So it is very clear that this President and his Republican enablers in Congress are choosing war over the health care of the American people. They are choosing tax cuts for multi millionaires and billionaires over the health care of the American people. They are doing absolutely nothing whatsoever to make things more affordable for the American people. In fact, they’re doing the exact opposite.”
“The cost of fertilizer for our operation has gone up 48% in the last 30 days. So for our operation, that 48% increase comes in at between $40,000 and $50,000 just on my farm alone,” said Nebraska farmer Ben Steffen. “We’ve never been this far behind on ag trade. And all the Republicans in Congress, they all voted for this. Nobody stood up and said, Wait a minute. This is not good for agriculture. Nobody said a peep.”
“I’m the mom of twin 13 year old boys who are both profoundly autistic and rely on Medicaid for health care and our vital services. For more than a year now, Republicans in Washington have seemingly worked day and night to raise costs for my family and make it harder for us to make ends meet,” said Theresa Luioni, a New Jersey resident. “My congressman, Tom Kean Jr., is one of the Republicans in Congress who voted to gut Medicaid. He voted for the tax law that is increasing energy costs. He voted for the war that’s making life even more unaffordable for families like mine, and he did it all while voting to give billionaires yet another tax break.”
“Despite their promises to lower costs, congressional Republicans seem hell bent on driving our costs up while protecting profits for billionaires and massive corporations,” said Unrig Our Economy Campaign Director Leor Tal. “From cutting Medicaid and SNAP last year to taxing us with tariffs to higher gas and fertilizer prices because of their war with Iran, Republicans in Congress continue to wage war on Americans’ wallets and push an agenda that puts working families last.”
“People know the score: Their costs keep rising because of Republican decisions in Washington,” said Families Over Billionaires Executive Director Kristen Crowell. “Increasingly we’re hearing from people in red states who are absolutely fed up about being left behind while the rich keep getting richer from the Trump administration’s billionaire-first tax cuts and wars.”
Watch the recording here.
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About Unrig Our Economy
Unrig Our Economy is a national campaign to fix the rules of our economy to make it work for working people. We know that when the middle class does well, all of us do well — which is why we’re fighting on behalf of working Americans and holding corporations, their wealthy executives, and the politicians who enable them accountable.
About Families Over Billionaires
Families Over Billionaires is at the forefront of the fight to take on the billionaire class and rewrite our tax laws so that working people can build good lives with dignity and stability. Learn more on our website: www.familiesoverbillionaires.org.