Washington, DC – Americans’ wallets are being stretched thin thanks to Republicans in Congress, as two new reports by the Joint Economic Committee Minority (JEC) reveal. According to the JEC, families have lost over $2,300 on average under President Trump and Republicans in Congress’ cost-raising agenda.
The increased cost of living includes a 37 percent spike in gas prices, which have risen to more than $4 a gallon since the start of an unnecessary, Republican-backed war in Iran. American families have been forced to spend an additional $16 billion on gas since the start of the war. That amount is double what it was just three weeks ago, highlighting the havoc Republicans’ war in Iran is wreaking on Americans’ finances.
Sadly, this pain doesn’t stop at the pump. American families have lost thousands of dollars because the cost of food, health care, utilities, and other basic necessities have soared under congressional Republicans. For the past year, Republican-backed tariffs have raised prices on groceries and everyday goods, while their historic cuts to health care and food assistance have sent premiums skyrocketing, put 15 million Americans at risk of losing health insurance, and ripped food off of the table for millions of working families. They’ve done all of this while bankrolling tax breaks for billionaires and corporations.
“Congressional Republicans promised to lower their constituents’ costs. Not only have they failed to deliver on that promise, they have actively made sure that working people are poorer than they were before, while billionaires pay less,” said Unrig Our Economy Campaign Director Leor Tal. “They’ve prioritized funding for an unnecessary war and tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy over the basic needs of the people they represent. It’s time Republicans in Congress get their priorities in order, because working families can’t afford to keep losing thousands of dollars to an agenda that puts them last.”
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.