PRESS RELEASE
WATCH: Jocelyn Benson Slams John James Tax Hike Costing Michiganders $5600
Jocelyn Benson: “Because of his actions, because of his inability to stand up to the President as a Congressman, we are hit with these taxes, we are hit with these increased prices, and he has to take responsibility for that instead of running away from it.”
This morning, Secretary of State and Democratic Nominee for Governor Jocelyn Benson joined Face The Nation on CBS to discuss the latest John James Tax hikes. Michiganders have already been paying an additional $5,600 because of James and Trump — the highest of any state — and now are facing an escalating trade war with Canada, and price hikes across the board thanks to John James.
James has made clear he fully supports these tariffs – voting in favor of them in Congress and rallying with JD Vance just days after the federal government saddled Michiganders with another round of John James Tax hikes. Michiganders deserve leaders focused on lowering costs, not raising them. That’s why Jocelyn has outlined her plan to improve trade relations with Canada, build a stable business environment to support and grow small businesses, and lower costs as the next governor of Michigan.
Key point: “Since Trump took office, we've seen our expenses go up, and these tariffs, particularly with Canada, have increased prices in Michigan more than any other state. The average Michigan family is paying $5,600 more. That's a tax on our groceries, that’s a tax on our small businesses, [and] on gas. And … my opponent has been fully supportive of these tariffs. He voted multiple times in support of them instead of in support of the people of Michigan. That is cowardice, and that is not leadership. And Michiganders need a governor, I will lower their costs and stand up to the President, as I've done as Secretary of State.”
In case you missed it…
Margaret Brennan: Is that affordability issue something you can improve on as governor?
Jocelyn Benson: Yes … affordability is a centerpiece of our campaign. Our campaign is ultimately about driving down costs, growing our economy so that we can increase well-paying jobs in our state, protecting democracy, and ending corruption. And everywhere I go in Michigan, I hear heartbreaking stories about choices that residents are having to make: moms having to choose between whether to pay for food or childcare, seniors on a fixed income trying to decide how they're going to still pay for medicine with these rising costs. The next governor of Michigan must address these, and I've done that as Secretary of State. I know how to fix broken systems. … I improved our democracy, I improved the Department of Motor Vehicles in a way that has saved people time, saved people money, and made their lives easier. I've done that as Secretary of State, I'm ready to do that as governor.
Brennan: Well, one of the challenges in Michigan, of course, is the fact that a large portion of your state's exports, 36%, go north to Canada. On Tuesday Canada's tariffs on steel and aluminum products, U.S. made dairy and appliances, will go into effect as part of this trade dispute. It's going to be between 15 to 50% on $20 billion worth of American-made goods. How much is that going to hit Michigan?
Benson: It already has. I mean, since Trump took office, we've seen our expenses go up, and these tariffs, particularly with Canada, have increased prices in Michigan more than any other state. The average Michigan family is paying $5,600 more. That's a tax on our groceries, that’s a tax on our small businesses, [and] on gas. And … my opponent has been fully supportive of these tariffs. He voted multiple times in support of them instead of in support of the people of Michigan. That is cowardice, and that is not leadership. And Michiganders need a governor, I will lower their costs and stand up to the President, as I've done as Secretary of State. So I announced this week my intention as governor to ensure we're negotiating subnational agreements, partnering with other governors if necessary, to ensure we're developing ways to, in spite of the federal government's best efforts to drive up costs with these taxes and tariffs, negotiate subnational agreements that will drive down costs and protect the people of Michigan. That's what we need the next governor to be able to do, and that's what I've done and will do with this governor.
Brennan: Well, your Republican competitor was on this program last weekend. He said he doesn't want more trade disputes and will talk to the White House about it. You just said subnational agreements, but practically speaking, how at the state level, can you do anything to cancel out the costs coming from the federal government's dispute?
Benson: Well, first, it's important to note my opponent could talk a good game, but the bottom line is he has either been silent or he voted for these tariffs — and that means we call these tariffs, in Michigan, the John James Tax. Because of his actions, because of his inability to stand up to the President as a Congressman, we are hit with these taxes, we are hit with these increased prices, and he has to take responsibility for that instead of running away from it. But in addition to that, subnational agreements are things that governors and other states have already talked about and negotiated to drive down costs when the federal government won't do that. So as governor, I can meet with officials in Canada and identify specific ways we can ensure trade between Michigan and Canada gets around these tariffs, reduces costs, and in particular when it comes to our auto industries, we need a governor who's going to stand up for auto workers, who's going to stand up for this critical industry in our state, and ensure that our partners to the north are working with us collectively to create jobs and drive down costs, that's what a national agreement can help you.
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