Macomb County Residents Gather To Talk About The Impact Of Tariffs
Michigan Families for Fair Care hosted a watch party on Tuesday at the Mount Clemens Public Library to premiere a new digital ad highlighting how tariffs supported by Congressman John James have increased costs on everyday goods for Macomb County families. James even voted in favor of preventing any legislation stopping tariffs from being enacted as we were holding our event. Community members, volunteers, and local leaders gathered to view the ad and discuss the growing affordability challenges facing working families across Michigan's 10th Congressional District.
The new ad features Alex, a Macomb County small business owner, speaking directly about how tariffs have made basic necessities more expensive. Tariffs have driven up costs across essential goods, with food prices rising as imported agricultural products face new levies, lumber costs increasing for home repairs and construction, and steel tariffs raising prices on everything from appliances to vehicles. These increases hit working families particularly hard as they manage already tight household budgets.
"As a small business owner, I'm tired of watching my costs go up because I have nowhere else to pass that down, other than to my customers. Meanwhile my grocery bills go up, home repair costs are skyrocketing, and everything else is getting more expensive while Congressman John James supports policies that benefit billionaires," said Alex, Macomb County resident and business owner featured in the ad. "These tariffs are hitting working class people who are just trying to make a living. We're the ones paying the price while the ultra-wealthy get tax cuts. Congressman James needs to start putting Macomb County families first."
“We can’t swallow that cost. So we have to wrestle with our clients. You know, some of our clients are okay with the higher costs because they make more money than I do. But for a lot of folks, they are not able to pay those costs.“ said Macomb County Commissioner and small business owner, Michael Howard. “Those costs trickle down onto the housing market. It trickles down into the grocery market.“
The watch party provided an opportunity for residents to come together and discuss how economic policies supported by Congress directly impact their household budgets. Congressman James voted for the Republican Tax Law, which prioritized tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy over the needs of working class Michiganders and we will hold him accountable for his actions. Michigan Families for Fair Care will continue on our mission by sharing ads with stories from the likes of Alex or Todd who are being crushed under the weight of needless tariffs. Now the House of Representatives will have an opportunity to strike down tariffs on Canada which our speakers cited as having a negative impact on Michigan’s economy.
