Key points in this opinion piece from David Kieve, president of EDF Action, and Katharine Pichardo, president and CEO of Latino Victory:
“According to a Pew survey released in late November, two-thirds of those surveyed say the economic situation of U.S. Hispanics is worse today than it was a year ago, nearly double the amount who said so in Trump’s first term. Energy and utility bills were cited as the biggest struggle for Hispanics (36%), more than grocery bills, health care, or housing costs. In a recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, only 36% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the economy despite the president giving himself an “A+++++” grade.
Adding to the pain, low-income households spend three times more on energy costs as a percentage of their income than non-low-income households. Rather than throw Latino households a lifeline, the Republican-led Big Ugly Bill signed by Trump on July 4 sunk the fortunes of far too many families forced to pay more for dirtier, costlier and less reliable fossil-fueled energy, including coal and gas, as the law took a sledgehammer to clean energy incentives.
Actions have consequences. In our country, we get to decide who will represent us in Congress. As we enter this year’s election season, it’s time to assess our representation and decide who is truly listening to us and working toward shared values. That includes honoring la promesa — the promise — to take care of our families and create communities where everyone can afford to thrive.”