Brent And Broken: Families In Kalamazoo, Lansing, And Warren Are Paying The Price For Huizenga, Barrett, And James’s Bad Bets
Families in Kalamazoo are now paying more than $4 a gallon at the pump. Many parts of cities across Michigan are starting to reach $4 for drivers in Lansing and the greater Detroit and Warren area. That is the highest price Michigan has seen in years. Congressmen Bill Huizenga, Tom Barrett, and John James have been on the wrong side of every decision that got us here. All three voted for the Republican Tax Law that handed massive tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy while enabling a war that is killing American military members, and burning through millions of dollars by the hour. The cost of groceries and everyday goods forced Michigan families to pay more already, while providing little in opportunities for people to make those dollars back, leaving many to wonder how they’re supposed to make ends meet.
Michigan drivers are already paying the price. Across the state, the average price per gallon has surged more than a dollar in a single month, the highest it’s been since the summer of 2023. Now, Michiganders will pay $740 more this year on just gasoline. Experts warn prices could climb further as long as the conflict continues to disrupt oil production and global energy markets.
“As a small business owner who often has to travel between job sites, the impact from gas prices has been felt immediately. When something as essential as gas eats at our bottom line, we can’t keep the same prices, and our customers feel that difference too.” said Alex, MI-10 small business owner. “In the last year, tariffs, inflation, and now gas prices have affected our business model and changed our plans for the future. I wish our Congressman John James would understand that when businesses suffer, the broader community suffers too. We urge him to disavow this disastrous policy that will continue to harm the business owners, families, and people of our state.”
“As a nurse, I’ve seen people have to cobble together what they have to be able to pay for the care they can afford, not just what they need. I’ve felt the impact of these high prices in my own wallet, and I know how to navigate the system. So what are families, parents, or elderly people supposed to do when there is no end in sight to the overwhelming cost to everything?” said Ashley, a Dewitt nurse and Congressman Barrett constituent. “Congressman Barrett's answer is to cut Medicaid, let health care premiums double, and fall silent when it comes time to push back on obviously harmful policies. My patients can't afford his priorities. Congressman Barrett, this is happening in your backyard, start acting like it."
The war itself is already costing taxpayers billions. Multiple American servicemembers have been killed, and the scope and duration of the conflict remain unclear. A majority of Americans oppose the war, and Michigan families deserve to know what their representatives plan to do because they soon won’t be able to afford even driving to work.
