Washington D.C — Today, Unrig Our Economy released a new ad featuring Michele, who runs a small preschool in New Jersey and describes how tariffs, which Congressman Tom Kean Jr. voted for, are affecting the cost of everyday supplies she needs to run her school. In the ad, Michele explains that recent tariff policies have increased prices on essential school supplies like paint, glue, construction paper, and crayons that small preschools rely on to serve children and families.
Small businesses that depend on imported materials can face higher costs when tariffs increase. For preschools like Michele’s, a recent study showed that first-day school supplies will cost 7.3 percent more than the previous year. Recent analyses also estimate that tariffs increased costs for all Americans by about $1,000 on average last year. For small operations like preschools that rely on items such as art supplies, paper products, and other classroom materials, these higher costs can add up quickly and create additional financial pressure.
The ad highlights that Congressman Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-07) voted to support the higher tariffs that are raising costs for Michele and millions of families and businesses across the country.
You can watch the new ad here.
Ad transcript:
I run a small preschool. Sometimes, managing 78 kids can be a lot.
There are new tariffs raising the price of nearly everything from paint to glue to construction paper.
They even raised tariffs on crayons.
I found out about a bill that supports higher tariffs and our congressman, Tom Kean Jr., voted for it.
On top of everything else, we can’t afford these tariffs.
To learn more about the campaign, visit UnrigOurEconomy.com or contact press@unrigoureconomy.com
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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.