Jocelyn Benson Hears from Local Grocery Store Owner and Customers Drowning Under “John James Tax” Hike on Groceries

Today, Secretary of State and Democratic nominee for Governor Jocelyn Benson joined State Rep. Natalie Price at a grocery store in Ferndale for a roundtable discussion about rising food costs. From the gas pump, to the doctors office, to the grocery store, Michiganders have been drowning under skyrocketing costs. Now, thanks to the latest round of John James Tax hikes, Michiganders are shouldering yet another Republican-made price hike.

Jocelyn heard from community members who are struggling more everyday to afford their groceries. For months, Jocelyn has been traveling the state sharing her plans to bring down costs, raise wages, and make Michigan the best place in the nation to live, work, and raise a family. Meanwhile, James has been backing Trump’s reckless trade war with Canada and the Iran War that are robbing Michiganders of thousands of dollars in higher costs. Jocelyn is the only candidate in this race that actually works for the people of Michigan — not corporations, not the highest bidder, and not Donald Trump.

“We’ve struggled with the rising costs recently. We have literally gotten together with neighbors to shop. So, we do the local shopping, someone will drive so that we can save on gasoline, others will go to the local food pantries to supplement whatever we cannot pick up at the supermarket,” said roundtable participant Lisa Staley. “$200 does not go a long way these days. And with the rise in tariffs, and rise in gasoline, we automatically know food prices go up. Everything goes up, and it's really been a challenge.”

“These costs are astronomical, and it really infuriates me that this is an intentional problem. This is something we can fix. And as a result of failed leadership at the federal level, it is getting worse and not better. And it underscores why governors are so important in this moment, because governors are all we have left to stand up to failed economic policies at the federal level,” said Jocelyn Benson. “As governor, I will negotiate a subnational agreement so that I can call our neighbors in Canada and say I need to make sure — whether it's our paper, our lettuce, or our electricity — that we're carving out specific agreements so that the costs are minimized for Michiganders, and we’re not beholden to the failed economic policies at the federal level. That's the difference between the governor who'll fight for the people, and the governor who'll just do Trump's bidding.”

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