Trump promised to lower prices. So why are they going up?
Rep. Tarik Khan February 21, 2025
By State Representative Tarik Khan
As submitted for publication in the East Falls Now, Chestnut Hill Local and the Roxborough Review
Donald Trump made one pledge front and center in his Presidential campaign, to "immediately bring prices down, starting on Day One."
Now, nearly a month into his Presidency, Americans are feeling the effects of the highest inflation and cost increases since August 2023.
If you are closely following the chaos coming out of Washington, you likely missed any action by the President that would bring down costs for families. The truth is Trump seems to be focused on everything else. Frivolous things like renaming landmarks. Traumatic things like ICE raids and breaking up families as part of his mass deportation fixation. And disturbing things, like pardoning convicted felons who assaulted police officers on January 6th and giving an unelected billionaire unrestricted and unchecked access to our personal data.
Trump's action to let his biggest campaign donor freeze congressionally appropriated funds, including funding intended for pregnant women, children, and infants, is still being felt. Governor Shapiro recently sued Trump to restore the more than $2 billion in funding frozen by Trump and his billionaire pal that was supposed to come to Pennsylvania to keep our water supply clean and safe, help neighbors lower energy costs, and create jobs across our Commonwealth.
Worse, Trump's policies seem designed only to raise prices for Pennsylvanians. His plans to ramp up deportations are expected to cause labor shortages— further raising costs and stunting our economy’s growth. And Trump's goal to drive up tariffs on imported goods is expected by most economists to make things even more expensive for Americans, since the costs of Trump’s tariffs will be passed onto consumers.
While Trump is distracted by his personal vendettas, my fellow colleagues and I in the Pennsylvania House Democratic Majority caucus remain focused on helping cut families’ costs. In my first term, we delivered on much-needed property tax and rent relief, invested in keeping prescription costs down, and tripled the child tax credit. That's money back in neighbors' pockets to spend on food, medicine, utilities housing costs, and whatever they want.
Our historic investments in Philly public schools (an additional $300 million) means that the city didn't have to increase property taxes to fund our schools. And the bills I introduced and got signed into law made housing more affordable, protected neighbors against having to pay to defend against frivolous SLAPP lawsuits and helped keep more police and firefighters healthy and on the job – giving an added benefit to the city so they could conserve our local tax dollars instead of having to replace those leaving the workforce.
In this session, I am leading the induction of bills that will help raise wages, lower housing costs, and help families access childcare and Pre-K.
While we may not be able to control the agenda coming out of Washington, we are working to be part of the solution to make things more affordable in Pennsylvania. Rising costs mean that neighbors and local businesses suffer.
Over the next few months, as I help work on the Pennsylvania budget as a PA House Appropriations Committee member, I will be focused on helping lower costs, raising wages, and growing our Pennsylvania economy— not freezing it. Imagine being as proud of your elected leaders as you are of the starting offensive and defensive lines of our World Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Because you deserve a government that is looking out for you, not billionaires and self-interests.