Press Release: ICYMI: Wisconsin Households Paying $2,035 in Additional Costs Thanks to President Trump and Congressional Republicans

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 07/21/2026 11:44 AM CDT
Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2026
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 
 
ICYMI: Wisconsin Households Paying $2,035 in Additional Costs Thanks to President Trump and Congressional Republicans
New report highlights devastating impacts of Trump’s policies on American families’ budgets
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today slammed President Donald J. Trump and Republicans in Congress—including Republican members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation who have largely voted with President Trump on his signature policies—after a recently released report that found that, as of June 30, 2026, the average American household has spent about $2,072 more on gas, electricity, and tariff-affected goods since President Trump took office for his second term. That total increases to $3,569 for a typical household if they receive health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, due to Congressional Republicans’ failure to extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits that made healthcare more affordable for millions of Americans.

According to the report, in Wisconsin, households have paid roughly $2,035 and $3,548 more during this time period, respectively, thanks to Wisconsin’s Congressional Republicans, who have been lockstep with President Trump in supporting the Trump Administration’s misguided—and even illegal—economic and foreign policies.

According to the report, on the current trajectory, households are expected to pay roughly $3,168 and $6,162 by the end of 2026. In Wisconsin, by the end of 2026, President Trump’s policies will cost the average household $3,103 more, and a family of four who gets their health insurance through the ACA marketplace a staggering $6,128 more.

As noted in this report, Wisconsin’s Congressional leaders who have repeatedly voted to increase costs on Wisconsin families include:
  • U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin)
  • U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil (WI-01);
  • U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-03);
  • U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05);
  • U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman (WI-06);
  • U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI-07); and
  • U.S. Rep. Tony Wied (WI-08).
“For the past year and a half, the president and Congressional Republicans have run roughshod over the economy, rubber-stamping the Trump Administration’s disastrous foreign and economic policies that are hamstringing hardworking folks and families,” said Gov. Evers. “Costs are already through the roof, and Wisconsinites cannot afford thousands more to be forced out of their pocket by the end of the year. I strongly urge President Trump and Republicans in Congress, including Republican members of Wisconsin's delegation, to work to reverse course on policies that are having devastating consequences on our families, seniors, and communities across our state.” 

The report examines how congressional votes have led directly to increased costs for many Americans, examining the cumulative effect of four distinct federal policies directed under the Trump Administration that have resulted in higher costs at the state and local level, including how:
  • President Trump’s war against Iran has increased gasoline prices;  
  • Clean energy cuts in the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ have increased utility costs;  
  • Tariffs have increased prices on groceries and other goods; and  
  • The ACA enhanced premium tax credit expiration has resulted in higher premium costs for families purchasing health insurance on the marketplace.  
Chart from report showing cumulative additional costs per household since January 2025. Source: Center for American Progress
Chart from report showing cumulative additional costs per household since January 2025, by policy, and the running total for an ACA marketplace coverage family of four. Source: Center for American Progress 

Over the last seven years, Gov. Evers has consistently focused on reducing out-of-pocket costs for Wisconsin folks and families, and as a result of his administration’s work, Wisconsinites are keeping more of their hard-earned income today than at any point in the last 50 years. In fact, since taking office, the Evers Administration has worked to enact over $12.6 billion in tax cuts, which will total $2.4 billion in annual tax relief by the end of this biennium. Most recently, in the governor’s 2025-27 bipartisan biennial pro-kid budget, Gov. Evers approved provisions to eliminate the sales tax on utility bills, saving Wisconsin households over $178 million over the next two years, cut taxes for retirees and the middle class, and made child care more affordable for working families. Thanks to the tax cuts Gov. Evers has signed while in office, most middle-class Wisconsin taxpayers will see income tax cuts of 20 percent or more.

To ensure that Wisconsin families are able to meaningfully feel the benefits of the Evers Administration’s economic policies, since the beginning of President Trump’s second term in office, Gov. Evers has continued to send letters to President Trump and Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation, highlighting the potential impacts the Trump Administration’s policies would have on Wisconsin: 
An online version of this release is available here.
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