For Thanksgiving this year, many Americans will travel to be with family and enjoy a feast. It truly is one of our country’s best holidays, where we get to spend cherished time with family and give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy. But sadly, thanks to the decisions made under one-party Democrat rule over the last two years, this year’s celebration will be significantly more expensive compared to previous years. That’s a cruel consequence of Washington Democrats’ trillion-dollar spending spree, which ignited and continues to fuel the highest increase in the cost-of-living in 40 years.
Back in December 2020, a month before Biden took office, the economy was well on its way to recovery. But just a few months later, Washington Democrats sent the economy into a death spiral when they passed their $2 trillion so-called American Rescue Plan – a bill they claimed was to fight COVID but less than 9% of its funding went to things like putting shots in arms. The other 91% was spent on ridiculous things like $400 million to upgrade state parks and trails in Michigan and more than $783 million for stimulus checks to prisoners, including the Boston Marathon Bomber. This major economic crisis could have been avoided if Washington Democrats had only listened to warnings by hundreds of economists, the Congressional Budget Office, and even members of their own party that spending trillions of dollars wasn’t needed for the economy to recover and could even lead to the cost-of-living crisis we are seeing today.
Growing up in a working-class family, I know first-hand what it’s like celebrating Thanksgiving on a tight budget. A government focused on the priorities of the working class would make decisions that make it easier for Americans to put food on their table, clothes on their backs, and gasoline in their cars. But what’s incredibly frustrating is that big government is the reason why Thanksgiving and Christmas are shaping up to be the costliest on record.
Let’s start by looking at how much more expensive it will be for families to take a road trip to visit family. In 2019 – when America was energy independent – the price of gas for driving from Cape Girardeau to Kansas City and back was around $64. Today, the cost to fill up the tank for that very same trip would be $116. Paying nearly twice as much for gas compared to recent years means that some families will make the difficult decision to cancel their annual road trips, holding out hope that next year they’ll be able to afford to spend the holidays with loved ones.
Hosting Thanksgiving dinner is going to cost significantly more too. With the price of turkey up 23%, many families will look for alternatives to this Thanksgiving staple. And making that apple pie recipe that’s been in the family for generations will be much more expensive too, with across-the-board price increases for ingredients like eggs (up 43%), flour (up 24.6%), and butter (up 26.7%). Prices are so high that roughly a quarter of Americans are planning to skip Thanksgiving dinner altogether this year.
After Thanksgiving, many families will head out to pick out a Christmas tree. Unfortunately, the price for a Christmas tree this year is expected to increase as much as 20%. But higher costs for everything from food and clothes to gasoline and Christmas trees are only part of the reason Americans will be feeling a tighter pinch this Christmas. Thanks to Washington Democrats’ economic crisis, the average worker in America is making $3,000 less a year than they did in January 2021 because prices have risen faster than wages. On top of that, this cost-of-living crisis is costing Missouri families $8,900 a year. In other words, Americans are making less and paying more for everyday goods.
This Thanksgiving, I hope many of you will find joy in the blessings of gathering together with your loved ones and for living in the greatest country in the world. I hope you will say an extra prayer for the thousands of servicemembers defending our nation’s freedoms all over the world who will not get the chance to celebrate with their families this year. As we look forward to the next year, just know that my single-biggest priority in the incoming Republican majority will be making life better for the hardworking Americans who are the backbone of this country. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent each and every one of you, and I hope you and your family have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
