| DCCC spokesperson Katie Smith released the following statement after Will Lawrence held Tom Barrett’s feet to the fire for failing Michiganders in today’s debate:
“Michiganders saw the truth about Tom Barrett on display: every time it counts, Barrett votes with Trump and corporate interests to raise prices while enriching himself and his donors. Barrett failed to defend his record voting to give billions in tax breaks to data center developers, billionaires, and special interests – paid for by gutting health care and jacking up regular families’ costs. In contrast, Will Lawrence proved again that he is unbought and independent and that he’ll put Michigan families first. Michiganders are ready for change and will elect Will to fight for them.”
Tom Barrett Sold Out Michiganders, Here’s How:
- COSTS: Barrett told Michiganders he understood they’re “plagued” by “high food prices” and “high home heating prices” and promised he’d lower costs. Instead, he rubber stamped Trump’s agenda spiking prices: and now Michiganders are paying over $4,200 more.
- HEALTH CARE: Barrett backed the Big, Ugly Bill that gave his wealthy, special interest donors a payday while gutting health care, raising premiums, and failing to lower costs for Michigan families.
- GAS PRICES: Barrett stood in front of a gas pump and told Michiganders in his own words, “when I’m elected to Congress… we’ll get gas under control so that this will be a lot more affordable for families like yours.” Instead, Barrett voted TWICE to rubberstamp the Iran War, covering for Trump and sending more money and resources to an unpopular war raising prices at the pump.
- CORRUPTION: Barrett got caught funneling nearly $56,000 dollars in campaign cash to firms his wife worked for, payments he began making and in one case doubled after she was hired, and faced scrutiny for paying himself over $20,000 in mileage reimbursements that far exceeds the average reimbursements of the rest of the Michigan delegation – meaning that if he were reimbursing himself at the standard rate, he “drove enough campaign-related miles to circle the Earth once with about 7,000 miles left to spare.”
- DATA CENTERS: Barrett voted for the Big, Ugly Bill, which gave over $80 billion in tax breaks to data center developers. Barrett voted for a bill that included a ten-year ban on state and local governments regulating AI and data centers. Data center developer Elon Musk’s super PAC is spending in support of Barrett’s campaign, after dumping in $869,400 to support Barrett in 2024.
- TARIFFS: Barrett voted eight times to rubberstamp the tariffs raising grocery prices, undermining Michigan’s manufacturing, and threatening small businesses. And he voted to gut SNAP and slashed programs to help lower energy bills.
- VETERANS: Barrett proudly backs a bill that could put billions in VA funding for veterans’ health care on the chopping block. Barrett’s bill would “put more than $100 billion in annual VA medical funding on a three-year countdown clock” and defended DOGE cuts undermining care at the VA.
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