Kelly, Stanton: Arizona Teachers, Firefighters, Police Officers & Other Middle-Class Workers Will See Higher Costs Under Trump’s Tax and Tariff Plans
Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) are sounding the alarm about how the middle-class workers who make up the backbone of our country–-police officers, firefighters, teachers, retail workers and more–-will all face higher costs because of President Trump’s economic policies, while the top 0.1% of earners get a massive windfall.
A new report released last week by the Joint Economic Committee Minority found that the combination of Trump’s reckless tariffs and the Republican budget bill will cost the average middle-class American hundreds of dollars next year, while the wealthiest Americans will net a tax break of nearly $350,000.
“Arizonans are already feeling the strain of rising costs. Now, Donald Trump and Republicans want to hike up costs even more, all to give massive tax breaks to billionaires. That couldn’t be more backwards. We should be cutting costs for working families, and making it easier for police officers, firefighters, teachers, and others who serve our communities to get ahead,” said Sen. Kelly.
“Trump’s economic policies are combining to jack up prices for Arizonans,” said Rep. Stanton. “Teachers, police officers, firefighters work hard for their paychecks. The last thing they need is federal policies that will take money out of their pockets to funnel to the wealthiest one percent.”
Key findings show President Trump’s tariffs and Republicans’ budget bill would:
- Cost teachers $490: Grade school teachers will lose nearly $500 in 2026 from the combined impact of Republican tax and tariff policies;
- Cost firefighters and truck drivers $470: Both firefighters and heavy truck drivers will lose about $470 next year under the Republican plans;
- Cost police officers $250: Police officers will lose about $250 next year under the Republican plans;
- Meanwhile, the top 0.1% get a $350,000 windfall: The typical earner at the very top of the income ladder will receive a net tax break of $348,500 in 2026, even after accounting for tariff impacts;
- Widespread impact on working families: The analysis shows that workers across essential middle-class jobs will all face higher costs under the Republican plans.
The full report can be found here.
