New Report Shows Reps. James and Barrett Have Done Nothing to Ease Inflation as Michigan Families Pay $1,606 More

This week, the Joint Economic Committee - Minority published a new report that finds that Michigan families paid $1,606 more for everyday necessities in 2025 due to inflation, including $382 more for housing and $70 more for transportation. Despite these mounting costs, Congressmen John James and Tom Barrett have taken no meaningful action to provide relief, instead, they voted for the Republican Tax Law that delivered massive tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy while cutting vital programs like SNAP and Medicaid.

"Michigan families are paying over $1,600 more for the same expenses we had a year ago. What are fixed income households, like mine, supposed to do? We have to be scrappy, and survive while getting fed empty promises from our Congressman’s office. That is just not enough." said Sheila Kniffin, resident of Michigan’s 7th Congressional District. “Representative Tom Barrett had a choice, help working families struggling with rising costs, or prioritize billionaires and large corporations. He chose the latter. His actions speak louder than words, and the results speak for themselves."

“How are people like me, on fixed income, supposed to survive a surge in expenses totalling nearly $2,000? My budget doesn't cover what it used to, groceries cost more, energy bills are more expensive, everything is more expensive.” said Rebecca Zainos, resident of Michigan’s 10th Congressional District. “Now Congressman James wants us to say that things are better after he voted to cut Medicaid by hundreds of billions while giving tax breaks to billionaires. I'm terrified of losing the healthcare that keeps me alive. How are we supposed to live when costs keep rising and he's threatening the only lifeline we have?"

The Republican Tax Law, which both James and Barrett supported, included the largest cuts to SNAP in history, affecting over 50,000 Michiganders in Michigan’s 7th and 10th congressional districts alone. The law also cut billions from Medicaid, threatening coverage for nearly 35,000. These cuts came as the same legislation delivered massive tax breaks to wealthy individuals and corporations.

With families facing higher costs for housing, transportation, food, and healthcare, James and Barrett continue to defend policies that benefit the wealthiest Americans while offering no relief to working families in Michigan's 7th and 10th Congressional Districts.