PRESS RELEASE
Jocelyn Benson to John James On High Gas Prices: This is Your Mess
Today, Secretary of State and Democratic Nominee for Governor Jocelyn Benson joined Tony Ortiz on WWJ Newsradio to discuss her call for Donald Trump and John James to suspend the gas tax as the war in Iran pushes gas prices to $5/gallon in Michigan. This is an unaffordable war that Trump and James started and it’s on them — not Michiganders — to clean it up. This is the second costly war James has rubber-stamped: just as he voted to continue the Iran war, he voted to continue Trump’s trade war that’s costing Michigan families an extra $5,619.
As governor, Jocelyn will use every tool in her toolbox to bring down costs and ensure every Michigan family can afford to fill their tank and put food on the tables. She is the only candidate in this race with a plan to get to work lowering the cost of housing, healthcare, utilities, and childcare.
Key point: “Gas is already at record levels. It's hitting $5 a gallon, diesel hit $7 a gallon. That's unacceptable. … We have to recognize this is the responsibility of the federal government to end. This is Trump’s and James' costs, the mess that they have created. They need to end it, and Michigan's cannot afford to keep paying for their failed policy decisions. And that's why suspending the federal gas tax will provide the immediate relief that families need in this moment.”
In case you missed it…
Tony Ortiz: First things first. How much will a suspension of the federal gas tax actually save drivers here in Michigan?
Jocelyn Benson: Look, gas is already at record levels. It's hitting $5 a gallon, diesel hit $7 a gallon. That's unacceptable. And to me, the immediate suspension of federal gas tax, as well as a swift end to the war in Iran, is necessary so that we can ensure we're driving down costs. In every community in the state, I talk to folks about how they have to choose between whether to pay for food or pay for fuel so they can get to jobs, so they can get income for everything else. So to me, we have to recognize this is the responsibility of the federal government to end. This is Trump and James' mess. They need to end it, and Michiganders cannot afford to keep paying for their failed policy decisions. And that's why suspending the federal gas tax will provide the immediate relief that families need in this moment.
Ortiz: Do you blame President Trump then for the total high costs that we're seeing, and aren't refineries having some issues as well?
Benson: We know that it's a result of the tariffs in Canada, for example, Michiganders are paying $5,600 more per household, more than any other state, as a result... [James] had an opportunity to vote to rein in Trump’s unaffordable war in Iran that is spiking gas prices, and instead he voted to continue that war, even if it means Michiganders pay more for gas every single day. So, in this moment, where we've got six and a half weeks to determine the future of our state in this critical midterm election, there are things that my opponent can immediately do to drive down costs for the people of Michigan. Instead of doing that, he's siding with Trump and driving up costs. And that's why this is his mess. And I blame him for it.
Ortiz: The higher prices are certainly affecting a lot of us. In fact, you were at a grocery store earlier this week. So, what did some shoppers tell you about what they're seeing?
Benson: You know, I talked to both the owner of the store and the shoppers there, and it was heartbreaking. Because from the price of lettuce, to the price of meat, to the price of basic paper towels, everything is going up. And I asked why? What is causing this in your view? And the owner said it's the trade war with Canada…And again, when my opponent had a chance to do right by Michiganders and stop these tariffs this year, he voted to continue them and give Trump the power to do just that. And in my view, the next governor of Michigan has a responsibility to ensure every Michigan family can afford to put food on the table. So I, as governor, will negotiate subnational agreements between the state of Michigan and Canada, to ensure we are finding ways to cut costs in Michigan with our neighbors to the north. And I'll work with governors in neighboring states as well to ensure we're providing carve-outs for our states that will lower the cost of food and other goods. So that we don't have to see our costs go up because of failed leadership in Washington.
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Ortiz: Your opponent, by the way, says that President Trump isn't exactly to blame for a lot of the issues that the state of Michigan is currently facing, besides the economy. So, how do you respond to that?
Benson: Well, you know, my opponent voted not once, not twice, but three times to raise the cost of health care premiums for the people of Michigan. So he’s right. It's not just Donald Trump, it's him and other folks at the federal level, who are just rubber-stamping these bad economic decisions… If I hear one more heartbreaking story from a family who has to choose between whether to pay for health care or food, it would break my heart. And I believe that at this time governors are necessary to be the guardrails to stand up to these failed economic policies. In Congress, my opponent has only rubber-stamped them. Every bad economic policy Trump puts forth, he supports. And to me that makes him unsuitable to be governor. We need a governor who will be able to find ways to work around these federal policies and work with our farmers, work with our residents here in the state to drive down costs, lower the price of food, make sure healthcare is more affordable, and ensure when John James and others tax our small businesses with these tariffs and the like, that we have [someone] who is going to drive down our costs. I’ll use every tool in my toolbox as governor to do that.
Ortiz: It's interesting. Ever since the primary, you have been talking about the economy as your number one issue when talking to possible voters out here in the state of Michigan. It feels like your opponent has only recently started to talk about the economy. Does that surprise you at all?
Benson: [...] What you just said is a perfect example of the gap between Washington D.C. and Congress, where he lives, and the kitchen tables in Michigan. Because I met a nurse last week who's working a double shift just to afford her insulin, and that's who's paying for these failed economic policies. So, I hear these stories every day. I talked to Michiganders who are struggling to pay higher bills because of the votes my opponent is making in Congress, and the rubber stamp he's giving to Donald Trump. So for me, I will bring high-paying jobs to the state and lower the bills for every Michigander. My opponent will do exactly what he’s done in Congress: raise your bills while he does whatever Donald Trump asks. And I think that's the real choice in this race for who folks want to lead this state into the future. Someone who has, as Secretary of State, as I have, worked every day to lower the cost of living in the state. Or someone like my opponent, who has shown us who he is by his votes in Congress: voting to increase the cost of health care, supporting these tariffs at a time when Michiganders need him to fight for them. He's just doing whatever Donald Trump asks.
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