USA/Economy-
By Suzanne Potter, producer, Public News Service.
A new report showed the average American family’s costs have risen by at least $2,000 since Republicans passed a federal budget bill last summer.
Researchers from the nonprofit environmental organization Climate Power and the Center for American Progress Action Fund found households are paying more for gas, utilities, groceries, and healthcare.
Jesse Lee, senior adviser for Climate Power, said a decision by Congress to let COVID-era health care subsidies expire is an ongoing drain on family budgets.
“You might have seen your ACA marketplace’s healthcare premiums double over the last year, and that’s just a crushing blow of hundreds of dollars a month,” Lee explained.
Through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, President Donald Trump and his GOP allies put the savings toward other administration priorities, including tax cuts and immigration enforcement.
The report blamed the Iran war for a big spike in gas prices and tariffs for higher prices on a range of goods. It pinned higher utility costs on policies undermining renewable energy. Lee encouraged people to make their voices heard to their members of Congress ahead of the midterm elections.
“This might be the first time since Trump came in where people are looking for ways to make their constituents happy instead of frankly just making President Trump happy,” Lee observed.
Trump has said his agenda promotes international security, combats trade deficits, and protects jobs in the oil and gas industry.
