MADISON, Wis. — Across the country, Americans are picking up side gigs and canceling summer plans just to cope with gas prices that are more than a dollar higher than before the Iran war. Electricity bills are up 16% since Trump took office. And Wisconsin Congressmen Byran Steil and Derrick Van Orden have remained silent following President Trump’s confession this week: “I love the inflation.”
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump dismissed a report showing inflation has hit a three-year high of 4.2%, insisting the numbers were “great” and declaring his affection for rising prices. This isn’t the first time Trump has ignored the struggles working families face as the economy worsens. When previously asked whether Americans’ financial struggles were motivating him to reach a deal with Iran, Trump replied: “Not even a little bit. I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody.”
A new report from Climate Power shows just how deep the crisis goes. Since Trump’s election, 382 clean energy projects have been canceled or stalled, putting nearly 144,000 jobs on the chopping block and driving electric bills up 16% nationwide. Gas and electric utilities have raised, or sought to raise, rates by more than $95 billion, affecting over 111 million customers. Meanwhile, NPR reported this week that the national average for a gallon of regular gas stands at $4.16, with working people taking on second jobs and canceling family trips just to stay afloat.
Steil and Van Orden voted for the Republican Tax Law that gutted the clean energy investments behind these canceled projects and lost jobs. They voted for Trump’s tariffs raising costs on Wisconsin families. And they have repeatedly voted for the war in Iran that is sending gas prices through the roof. As steadfast supporters of policies that are fueling inflation, it’s time for Steil and Van Orden to tell constituents what they think of Trump’s latest comments.
“While Trump brags that he loves inflation, Wisconsin families are looking at taking on second jobs just to cover their gas bills,” said Meghan Roh, Program Director of Opportunity Wisconsin. “Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden helped make this happen. They voted to kill the clean energy that would have kept costs down, backed tariffs raising prices on everything from groceries to utilities, and voted for a war that is costing billions of taxpayer dollars while raising prices. It’s time for Steil and Van Orden to demand that President Trump take inflation, and the economic pain of their constituents seriously.”
