FUELING THE FIRE: MICHIGAN'S GOP REPS JAMES AND HUIZENGA BACK AN UNAUTHORIZED WAR DRAINING FAMILY BUDGETS
The House of Representatives held a war powers vote today. Michigan families across the 4th, and 10th Congressional Districts are already living with the economic consequences of a war their own representatives have now voted to continue. Gas prices in Michigan have risen to near $5 a gallon since the war began, making it harder for working families to afford to fill up their tanks, get to work, and buy the groceries they need. Congressmen Bill Huizenga, Tom Barrett, and John James have each voted against war powers resolutions that would have ended the unauthorized conflict.
“While Michigan families are paying nearly $5 a gallon just to get to work, Congressmen Huizenga, and James have voted again and again to keep this unauthorized war going, ” said Steve Lawson, Executive Director of Michigan Families for Fair Care. “These are the same representatives who voted to give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy while cutting food assistance and health care for their own constituents. Michigan families cannot keep footing the bill for decisions that benefit everyone but them. Congressmen Huizenga, and James need to vote to end this war, bring costs down, and start fighting for the people of your districts.”
Michigan families were already being squeezed before this war began. The Republican Tax Law kicked thousands of people from food assistance, Medicaid cuts are pending and illegal tariffs drove up the cost of everyday goods before the courts stepped in, though many still remain, and ACA health care premiums more than doubled for thousands of residents. Now, on top of all of that, an open-ended, unauthorized war is driving up the price of gas, the thing families rely on to get to their jobs, their doctors, and their children’s schools. Working people in the 4th, and 10th districts are not the ones who decided to start this war. But they are the ones paying for it.
Meanwhile, in the 7th district, Congressman Barrett broke with his party and voted in favor of the war powers resolution to end the unauthorized conflict. While Michigan Families for Fair Care welcomes any step toward ending a war that is driving up costs for Michigan families, Barrett’s vote today does not undo his previous support for policies that have made life harder for residents of the 7th District. His vote for the Republican Tax Law continues to decimate access to vital resources people of his district need and one vote does not rebuild trust.
Michigan Families for Fair Care continues to hold Congressmen Huizenga, Barrett, and James accountable for the real-world impact their votes have on residents of the 4th, 7th, and 10th Congressional Districts. The ongoing war is one more burden stacked on top of years of policy decisions that have prioritized the wealthy over working families and Michigan residents are demanding their representatives start putting them first.
